Update by Heath, 6:41pm: Governor Jodi Rell announced at a press conference this evening that she would not run for re-election in 2010.
According to CTNewsJunkie, the Governor was near tears as she explained to reporters that she’s enjoyed her years as Governor:
“I want to thank the people of Connecticut for allowing me the honor of serving as their governor,” Rell said as she choked back tears. “I need their continued support and understanding and their prayers in the next 14 months. I still have a lot of governing to do.”
The move is sure to set off a flurry of activity among Republicans in the coming days as the Party’s nomination for Governor won’t be claimed by an incumbent for the first time since 1998.
One other thing on this: Colin McEnroe, myself, and others have been dead wrong on our predictions. But you know who wasn’t? Former Speaker Jim Amann called this months ago.
Likely candidates? Lt. Governor Michael Fedele has already said that if the Governor was out, he was in. And as it was written, so it shall be, as they say.
House Republican Leader Larry Cafero has had spectators curious for months with his Explore Cafero Committee already up and running. He’d make a very good statewide candidate.
Some weeks ago, Courant columnist Kevin Rennie suggested that the GOP “dream ticket” would consist of current CT-SEN candidate Rob Simmons running for Governor and Linda McMahon running for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Dodd.
But here’s a contrarian view: what about McMahon for Governor? Her money is good anywhere while Simmons’ $2m is locked in a federal account. Also, she was a CEO of a major company – skills that translate more easily to the Executive Branch than they do to the Senate.
I’ll post reactions from the other pols as we get them.
27 responses so far ↓
Crusher was right!
Now he just needs to get past Dan, Ned, Susan and whoever else is running.
And oh… I guess Dick is now running for Governor?
Murphy for Senate 2010!
I heard that the Crusher is going to run on the CT for Amann ticket…
I suspect the difficulty of a campaign in ‘10 factored significantly into Rell’s calculus. Despite her poll numbers, she probably wouldn’t have glided to re-election like she did in ‘06 given the economy, the Dautrich-gate and Lamont’s $$$. The prospect of going negative and a hard fought race no doubt would tarnish her image of a “grandma” above partisan politics.
let’s pick a campaign logo…
I’ll start!
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kApto83SZK4/SBqVEnsdO-I/AAAAAAAAAP0/xFtAvfh4LPY/s400/crush.jpg
I’d also bet that more Democrats and Republicans (aside from Fedele, McKinney and Cafero) will jump into the race.
Jodi dropped out too soon. Now Dick will jump in and the Crush is out of luck.
Over / under on Dick’s announcement? My guess is that it’ll be at least a few weeks as he makes phone calls and comes up with some reason about how CT needs him now more than ever. And of course, Jodi dropping out has nothing to do with his decision… haha…
Good luck Governor Blumenthal! You’re gonna have a lot on your plate in January 2011.
On second thought… serious question… does Susie B have a chance about Blumie?
sry… s/h read… does Susie B have a chance against Blumie?
I heard the Gov didnt endorse Fedele at her press conference. You think there is some sort of riff there? Maybe she has someone else in mind that she thinks is a better candidate?
Word is Gov. Rell refused to endorse Lt. Gov Fedele when asked at her press conference today. Wouldn’t one expect the Governor to support the candidacy of the man who ran with and supported her in 2006.
Lt. Gov Fedele announced months ago if Rell didn’t run he would run, so what’s with the non-endorsement. Does she consider him lightweight not ready for primetime?
Your Fedele points are amusing but might carry some water. It would be like Clinton not endorsing Gore in 2000. Fedele is the highest ranking Republican left, right?
Just read Capitol Watch, Fedele said he has Rell’s endorsement. Can’t find her endorsement anywhere in print. Is Fedele making it up?
I would wait to give an endorsement if I were her. There has got to be a better Republican ready to throw his/her hat in the ring. Don’t think Fedele has got “it”.
The word is “rift” — not riff, which is a musical term. And no, there isn’t any. But Rell has too much class to go endorse someone 30 seconds after announcing her own decision.
Personally, I am confident Mike Fedele — a good and decent man — is the presumptive nominee.
But let it rest for a moment. Connecticut has time — and will need it. The decision by Rell, albeit expected, is a disappointment to many, including me. But she’s served our state a long time and deserves some peace if anyone does.
That said: God help us if Susan or Dannel wins. Even Egghead Johnny would be a step up … At least he’s usually the smartest guy in the room — something neither Susie or Danny will ever be accused of being.
So you’re saying Rell and Fedele will not be playing any guitar together. Hmmm interesting…that speaks volumes.
“Just read Capitol Watch, Fedele said he has Rell’s endorsement. Can’t find her endorsement anywhere in print. Is Fedele making it up?”
According to what I read online, at Fedele’s press conference today he told reporters that Rell told him “privately” that she will support him for governor.
I wonder if Rell knew that Fedele would announce this private conversation that she had with him. It would not surprise me at all of Rell tells reporters in that coming days that she is not yet endorsing anyone for governor, in which case Fedele would have egg on his face.
On a different note, am I the only one who cringes every time I think of the name of Cafero’s exploratory committee? “Explore Cafero.” The connotations that name has are not very pleasant.
Can’t wait for the polling of both Lamont, and the GOP potentials.
Will Lamont poll as well as Bysiewicz?
Will Fedele poll better than the other unknown GOP candidates?
You do have to wonder if Blumenthal will jump in. I know he’d rather be in the U.S. Senate, but this might be his last chance to move up in the world. (Murphy’s going to step in front of him in 2012, even if Dick doesn’t see it.)
I also wonder if Rell doesn’t blind-side us all by declaring for the Senate seat as well. Would the CT GOP give her the endorsement?
I don’t think it would have been a good idea for Rell to endorse Fedele. She should at least wait to see who else is running. I don’t think Reagan endorsed George HW Bush until after the primaries in 1988.
I wonder if any of the Senate candidates may now look to the governor’s position. You’d think governor would be better than Senator: you don’t have to travel all the time between DC and your home state, you actually have power to make decisions, instead of being one of 100 people talking about doing something. Linda McMahon would probably be fairly similar to Rell in her policies. Schiff obviously has no interest in running for governor. Simmons probably would consider it, but someone here mentioned the campaign finance issue (he can’t transfer his existing funds). I don’t know enough about Foley, but my guess is he’d be willing to run for governor under the right circumstances.
As for Blumenthal being inevitable, I don’t know. There have been lots of times in politics when someone was considered invincible, then getting beat.
If Sammy isn’t raising the money for Senate… I wouldn’t be surprised to see him catapult to the Governor’s race. I’d like to see it. And as much as I like Sam, I’m beginning to wonder if anyone can compete with Linda.
Sure, the 30% of Roe voters won’t leave Sam… but I’m also thinking that Linda may actually be able to get over 50% of the rest of GOP primary voters. If public funding exists, Sam could compete for the governor’s seat. And he is by far the best speaker. That would serve him well in the debates.
With public funding, I think Sam could compete with Dick in a D/R race… add an indy in there though and who knows what could happen.
The republican race won’t build up to much. Rell will back Fedele, who is already seen as the presumptive nominee.
Fedele has experience at all levels – in the business world, the legislature and in the executive branch.
Cafero has, other than his ability to grandstand, 37 members and a dwindling caucus to show for his accomplishments.
It’s an easy question if you ask me.
Public funding puts a number of Rs in the race. And Sammy’s been doing the statewide legwork (RTCs, gun clubs, etc.) for more than six mos now. Frankly, my guess is that polls would show Caligiuri with more name recognition than Fedele at this moment in time.
“Public funding puts a number of Rs in the race. And Sammy’s been doing the statewide legwork (RTCs, gun clubs, etc.) for more than six mos now. Frankly, my guess is that polls would show Caligiuri with more name recognition than Fedele at this moment in time.”
Caligiuri’s spokesperson announced this evening that he has no intention of running for governor.
BTW- i love the comment about caligiuri doing the “legwork” by going to gun clubs. I’m afraid that doesn’t cut it in Connecticut.
>>But here’s a contrarian view: what about McMahon for Governor?
Now that would be funny if she was up against Lamont…two bottemless pits of cash in the same race…actually, Ned Lamont might find the bottom of his moneybag in that matchup. But they do have very similar campaign logos…
Linda: http://www.linda2010.com/images/header/linda_mcmahon.jpg
vs.
Ned: http://www.veotag.com/img/videothumbs/videoThumb-aewqomaxce.jpg
Ned has double the number of stars in his flag strip but I don’t have to read Linda’s last name…hmm, close call.
>>i love the comment about caligiuri doing the “legwork” by going to gun clubs. I’m afraid that doesn’t cut it in Connecticut
It does however with the GOP base; and the current race is for the nomination.
I have no information to suggest any such thing. But I will say that McMahon would be a fascinating candidate. She would have the inside on the nomination and be a perfect executive candidate. But she seems resolved for the Senate.
Simmons makes little sense. No talk nof McKinney on this blog, but recall, when he dropped out of the CD4 race, he mentioned that he might be interested in other opportunities in Hartford. Again, no word from anyone close to him — just a hunch. He’d be a strong candidate. Very likable, can’t be “boogie-manned”, and is a fine debater and campaigner.
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