VEEPstakes: Biden heading to Connecticut to help Malloy

Gov. Dannel Malloy, left, speaking before the arrival of the vice president, told the audience that Biden would probably mention his grandparents in his remarks. Sure enough, within minutes, Biden brought up his grandfather to the amusement of the Governor and audience. Vice President Joe Biden was at Western Connecticut State University Thursday, Feb. 21, 2012, addressing a conference on gun violence.

Gov. Dannel Malloy, left, speaking before the arrival of the vice president, told the audience that Biden would probably mention his grandparents in his remarks. Sure enough, within minutes, Biden brought up his grandfather to the amusement of the Governor and audience. Vice President Joe Biden was at Western Connecticut State University Thursday, Feb. 21, 2012, addressing a conference on gun violence.

Here he comes.

Vice President Joe Biden, who quarterbacked the stalled drive for tougher federal restrictions on guns following the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, will return to Connecticut next week to help Gov. Dannel P. Malloy with his fragile re-election bid, Hearst Connecticut Media has learned.

Fresh off a week-long vacation in the Hamptons, Biden will visit the other Gold Coast Aug. 20 for a pair a fundraisers, one in Greenwich for the Democratic Governors Association and the other in Stamford for the Connecticut Democrats, multiple sources familiar with Biden’s trip told the newspaper.

Both events will be held at private homes, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

A joint public appearance with Biden and Malloy is also in the works at Goodwin College in East Hartford to promote a workforce development initiative.

A request for comment was left Thursday with the Office of the Vice President.

Andrew Doba, the Capitol spokesman for Malloy, would not confirm the visit.

Democrats are said to be going to great lengths to keep the fundraising events in Greenwich and Stamford separate, so the DGA and state party are not seen as coordinating with each other and risking running afoul of campaign finance rules.

Neil Vigdor