Two weeks ago the CT Post reported Nancy DiNardo ruling out a possible Lamont run.
Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate, is apparently not interested in running for Congress, she said.
“After reading that Ned would be considering it, I spoke with him and he said it was not true,” DiNardo said.
A few of us here at CTLP were skeptical about DiNardo’s version of events.
I disagree. I’d bet money that Lamont is at least considering a run, actually I’d go as far as to say he’s sowing the seeds for an ‘08 campaign. Last week Lamont sent out an email to his supporters, he’s hired back TParty part time to do online work with him, and this weekend he took questions via live blog at FireDogLake. During the FDL chat several people asked Lamont about running and he never responded to the question. I feel like if Ned wasn’t at least considering it, he’d have said so.
I’d like to know one way or the other, and frankly I don’t trust Nancy DiNardo’s say-so.
This afternoon I spoke to Ned Lamont at the COW meeting in Wesport. He has no recollection of speaking with DiNardo about running in the 4th district. She certainly didn’t call him to ask about it. Lamont also told me that while he is disinclined to run in the 4th, he also hasn’t ruled it out. My impression is that he’s waiting to see if someone else steps up to the plate.
Perhaps Nancy DiNardo was just confused. I’d hate to think she was actively trying to squash a potential Lamont run, especially since Democrats have a pressing need for a candidate to challenge Shays.
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I’ll post about the COW Meeting later on. If you have any pictures or stories from meetings you attended please send them to me. I’m curious to hear how the other meetings went.
11 responses so far ↓
Lamont moderated a conference call for the COW organizing meetings today, which featured John Larson and Chris Dodd.
Non-binding War Resolutions Infuriating, Sen. Dodd Tells Organizers of 3/17/07 Protest
I certainly can’t imagine dinardo would try to ‘quash’ a lamont congressional effort, as the point that dems are in desperate need of a challenger to take on the weakened shays is well taken. i understand many folks here are skeptical of her motives, but i tend to think of her more as incompetent than actually nefarious. my guess: she asked him, he didn’t give a ‘hell yes,’ and she foolishly interpreted that as a no.
Make no mistake… I want shays out. his ridiculous statements during the past campaign coupled with his recent tirade attacking the grieving families of murdered contractor disgraced the entire state. The way I see it, we should all get behind a movement to oust shays as quickly as possible. I want to start attacking him now for two reasons: firstly, such gaffes as the aforementioned make him vulnerable, and i don’t want to give him a chance to regroup; secondly, i believe he may be eyeing higher office (no evidence, just a hunch), and going after him early would A) make him less attractive as a possible running mate for mccain and B) make it harder for him to simply pretend he is moving on to bigger and better things (if he were already in a fight for reelection, choosing to leave the House in favor of a senatorial or gubernatorial campaign would look more like shrinking from a fight than following a natural career progression).
So who might run against him is the obvious question. Let’s put potential candidates into three categories: The heavy hitter, the minor politicians who have paid their dues, and the celebrity candidates.
I’d put Lamont in that first camp, though I certainly don’t think he’s the top of the list. Obviously, Blumenthal is from Greenwich, so he’s the wet dream. We all know he, himself, is running for either senate or the governor’s mansion, however, so like most wet dreams of our youth this will never come to pass. Assuming he was never a possibility, Malloy is almost assuredly the strongest candidate who could challenge shays. Alas, Malloy was quoted in the CT Post as saying he would not run for congress (of course, this was the same article which stated Ned wouldn’t run), and is probably eyeing another attempt at state-wide office himself. This leaves us with Ned, who would have some messaging work to do in the 4th CD, but has already proved he has the money and acumen to do that work. Since I’m pretty sure Blumenthal and Malloy are out, I’d be all for a Lamont candidacy.
If all three decline, we’re in a bit of a pickle. We can either go with the relatively low-level politicos or some celebrity candidate with no politcal experience but with money and name id. In the former category, State Senator McDonald is probably the best choice; State Senatore Gomes, while he would be a far inferior campaigner, might make better inroads in Bridgeport. Jim Shapiro, Bob Duff and Jim Himes have put themselves on this list as well. Conventional wisdom would have me believe that no person on this list could mount a serious challenge to shays, but conventional wisdom has been wrong before. Plus, it will be a presidential year, so none of us can adequately predict what coattails will be out there for either shays or an opponent to ride.
It is because none of the first group seemed likely (but, as i said, if Ned’s in i’m all for it) that the third group–celebrity political tyros–is at all appealing. Dinardo mentioned attempts to woo Harry Connick Jr. (same CT Post article), but he isn’t even registered in the state yet. Tommy Hilfigger (he’d certainly have the best dressed campaign, and we already know what the campaign signs would look like [uh, the sweatshirts]) was mentioned as having expressed interest in the same article. Obviously, there are some negatives, but say what you will he has at least exhibited political interest and activism already. The third name in this category is Mike Richter. The former NY Rangers goalie is said to be eyeing a run and shopping for a congressional district. he’s from northeast philly, so he’s not going to challenge allyson schwartz.
I think we can agree that any candidate from the first camp would be great, but assuming that won’t happen, what do you all think of the prospects in camps two and three?
I’ve often thought that celebrity candidates were kind of a sign of desperation…
That second tier has some talented politicians in it. Chris Murphy could have been considered a second-tier candidate at this point in 2005. At that point, people also thought there was no way that Nancy Johnson was going to be defeated. Duff and McDonald, I think, could both make very strong challenges.
I can confirm that Malloy isn’t running for Congress. He’s made that pretty clear, which is to bad. I’d rather see him run for the 4th than for Governor.
Duff could be really good.
I’d rather not have a celebrity candidate, thank you.
i agree with you that there’s some real talent there, genghis, and i like andrew mcdonald a lot, but shays is a fairly titanic foe. your point about murphy is well taken, though–while shays himself can’t seem to open his mouth without shoving his foot into it–i doubt his staff would make the same fatal mistakes johnson’s did.
what do either of you think about going after shays sooner rather than later?
I find it hard to believe that Ned Lamont would double-down as a Congressional candidate. There is a big difference between being a Senator, and a Congressperson.
If Ned decided to run, I’d be behind him in a heartbeat. I don’t see this happening. While I might prefer a Malloy, Duff, or McDonald to run against Shays, I’ve got to to say that a Mike Richter candidacy excites me. Richter could definitely nail down the base, and also challenge Shays across the political spectrum.
People shouldn’t underestimate the strength of Shays, or of Farrell’s failed candidacy. If a Democratic challenge was anything but a long-shot, there’d be a multiplicity of candidates.
Again, I’d prefer a strong Progressive, but in CT’s most “R” leaning district, I’m happy to compromise to turn the state completely blue….
Dunno what Ned is up to but here’s what Joe has been up to and what some of his CT Donkey “friends” are saying about him too!!
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=37d9571a-0b85-4d69-87a9-862589b9371c
Whether it’s Ned or another, hopefully the Dems can come up with a strong candidate to finally take out Shays. Personally, I’m not a big Duff fan. I used to live in his district and even campaigned for his first State Senate run. Best I can see he’s turned out to be a fairly conservative Amman loyalist.
My favorite candidate (Malloy and Blumenthal’s highly unlikely bids aside) hasn’t even been mentioned yet. Bill Finch made a run for the 4th, and he’s done a lot of great work in the State Senate since then. With young children, I’m not sure he’d run, but I think he’s the kind of Democrat who could do very well in the 4th CD. I’m not sure if he’s even considering it, but he’ll be a formidable candidate.
Shays is definitely looking at the presidential race closely. If Romney or Brownback are at the top of his ticket, he’s in trouble.
While it isn’t unusual to speculate about a challenge in the 4th CD (and a possible Ned run admitedly makes that speculation all the more interesting to talk about), I think it is worth noting that strong challenges in 2008 will not ALL be by Democrats. We have freshmen Congressmen in both the 2nd and 5th CDs! Anyone care to give odds on who my party will put up against them?
Oh, and just for the record…if you are a celebrity…please play politics at home. Career politicians are bad enough! Seriously, if someone from outside the public service arena is going to run, then at least let it be someone FROM the 4th CD. Shopping nationally for a district? What have we come to? That’s almost as bad as the idea of a Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton presidential roundabout…
Chris
A Richter candidacy could be very interesting. And obviously Malloy or Blumenthal aren’t interested. I hear Himes is thinking about running for First Selectman in Greenwich, which would make a lot more sense. No way he could beat Shays this time, but maybe FS would give him a platform for something. Also agree Finch could be good – but like McDonald and Shapiro, why give up a legislative seat to run a way long shot race?
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