Connecticut Local Politics

There’s a headline I bet I’ll be writing a lot more as the campaign season kicks into gear. But apparently the Courtney campaign said in the it’s-not-online-technology-is-for-the-weak Willimantic Chronicle:

�Our opponent is uncomfortably divorced from reality,� said Brian Farber, a spokesman for Courtney. �Congressman Joe Courtney has done more for eastern Connecticut in two years than his predecessor in six, including securing $900 million for tuition assistance programs to make college more affordable for families and students, introducing bipartisan legislation to make health care more affordable for small businesses and their employees, and saving thousands of jobs at Electric Boat.�

To which Sullivan’s campaign responded in a press release:

�The fact of the matter is that Joe Courtney�s record is abysmal and has done nothing to address the high costs of energy. While Courtney is enjoying his fun in the sun vacation in which he voted for eastern Connecticut families are hurting in the pocketbook. There is only one candidate in this race that is committed to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, for drilling on federal lands and for more nuclear power; that candidate is Sean Sullivan,� said Andrew Powaleny, communications director for Sullivan.

GOP attacks on energy don’t seem to be gaining much traction, as in national generic ballots Democrats are way ahead of Republicans, and the margins haven’t changed much. If Republicans are going to get something going on energy and ill-timed vacations, they need to do it soon.

As for the accusations, I think that the Courtney campaign is quick to forget Rob Simmons’ efforts on behalf of the sub base, for instance, and Courtney has seemed to support nuclear power, and has also supported bills that would have reduced dependence on foreign oil by investing in alternative energy sources.