“…And down the stretch (the ‘career politicians’) come…”

debateSo the thoroughbreds are rumbling toward the finish line in the contentious Republican gubernatorial primary. Scott McLean, professor of politics at Quinnipiac University, just offered some insights for consideration as the clock heads toward 8 p.m. and the close of polls. He said that during the Sunday morning debate on News Channel 8, McKinney clearly showed a better grasp of state policy and would be a more-formidable challenger to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

“Anybody in the Malloy campaign will be praying that McKinney doesn’t win,” McLean said in a phone interview. “He would be able to go toe-to-toe with the governor on policy details and not let the discussion turn ugly.” Foley and Malloy both have tempers, McLean said, that could spiral into personal attacks, while McKinney seems to be able to stay above the fray. “Foley and Malloy are easily swayed that way,” he said.

Still, McLean says the primary is Foley’s to lose. “Over the last three years Foley has built relationships with town committees, has helped them fund-raise,” McLean said. “For all his failings as a candidate, he has done a great job on the grassroots level, getting support in line.” Coincidentally, or ironically, depending on one’s sense of humor, Foley’s nearly four-year focus on the 2014 governor’s race, after losing the 2010 campaign by 6,404 votes, makes him vulnerable to one of his own major catch phrases against Malloy and McKinney. “For the last three-plus years he has made a career out of running for governor,” McLean said. “In that sense he has become a career politician as well.”