Rell Urges Schlesinger To Reconsider Candidacy (more Repub drama in CT)

[Pale Blue Dot]

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-schlesingercandidacy0712.artjul12,0,6809198.story?coll=hc-headlines-home

Gov. M. Jodi Rell and GOP State Chairman George Gallo publicly urged fellow Republican Alan Schlesinger to reconsider his candidacy for U.S. Senate after learning Wednesday that he gambled at the Foxwoods Resorts Casino under an assumed name while an elected official in the 1990s.

Schlesinger said Rell and Gallo were overreacting to an innocent act: giving a fake name to obtain a Foxwoods' "wampum card" that rewards casino patrons with meals, rooms and merchandise based on how much they gamble.

<snip>

The Senate nomination has grown increasingly important to Republicans given the strong showing by Democratic challenger Ned Lamont against incumbent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman. Lieberman announced last week he will run as a petitioning candidate in November should he lose the Democratic primary, forcing a three-way race with Schlesinger and Lamont.

A three-way race with two Democrats would give the Republicans their best chance at winning a Senate seat in 18 years. Schlesinger cannot be stripped of the nomination, only pressured to quit. If he withdrew, the vacancy would be filled by the Republican State Central Committee, Gallo said.

***

Does this story relate to this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2384620

[joemurphy]

1. Hey, I want a "wampum" card too! Where do I sign? John Doe

[TheVirginian]

2. The Hotline has a different idea.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/07/update_from_ct_1.html

They think that Rell and Gallo are clearing the field for a self-funder to make the race interesting. Diana Urban's bid is an anomoly; she's broken with her party on this issue. She's not going to get any party support.

So if there's a strong self-funding Republican, an anti-war Republican-Independent, an anti-war Democrat, and an incumbent pro-war Democrat-Independent, then this might be the most interesting Senate race in the last 100 years.

[monarch]

3. I agree about it being the most interesting in years

In many ways, it is the most interesting race in the country. CT has everything: corruption (Schlesinger's campaign manager served time for bribe taking, the Governor's chief of staff is considered to have perjured herself before a legislative committee, the last chief justice is under investigation for holding back a decision to benefit his handpicked successor) There's even even sex, if you count Joe's last opponent.

Most important of all, we have a laboratory for examination of what being a Democrat is supposed to mean, whether party insiders think that they should be responsive to the voters and the big question of whether the internet has the potential to right some of these wrongs. There is lots, lots more. Stay tuned.

[brooklynite]

4. Poor Paul!

Paul Streitz works down the hall from me, and was the other Republican candidate for the Senate nomination. He dropped out at the convention in the name of "Party Unity". If only he'd hung around a little longer.