New Haven Independent

Republican Rell met DeStefano in a one-hour debate filmed at the Garde Arts Center in New London. DeStefano, who’s the mayor of New Haven, pushed a “working families” message, emphasizing property tax reform and universal health care. Rell, seeking to maintain a 33 percent lead over her opponent, resisting attacking him, instead stressing her record as governor.

Monday’s debate, sponsored by The Day and WTNH-Channel 8, is the first of two televised debates before the Nov. 7 election for governor. (To read a related story about the pre-debate rally, including a Jet Ski and uninvited third-party candidates, click here.)

Rell, who’s been keeping press questions to a minimum as she rides out high popularity ratings, faltered under two tough questions. (You can find video clips of those moments on this page of My Left Nutmeg.)

The Senate Race

Channel 8’s Mark Davis asked Rell whom she supports in the current U.S. Senate race. The question put her in a tight spot because after she has previously asked Republican-endorsed candidate Alan Schlesinger not to run because of a gambling scandal. Schlesinger refused to drop out. Which of the three — Schlesinger, Democrat Ned Lamont or incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman — would be the best candidate for the November Senate election?

Rell didn’t pick one.

“I think all of the candidates that are running for the United States Senate have special expertise in their own way,” said Rell. She listed them. Experience: Lieberman. “Know-how and policy direction”: Schlesinger. Lamont’s “expertise”? Lack of foresight.

“For new, and no, probably less of any kind of foresight except for one issue, I would consider Mr. Lamont in that category.”

Noting her reply wasn’t flying with Davis, she said, “I’m trying to answer your question, Mark, I will tell you honestly, they all bring something different to the table, and each one of them is, um, I think representative of their constituencies at every step of the way.”

“The question is which one is best for the next six years?” Davis pressed.

Rell dodged again. “I think everyone in this audience would have a different opinion on which one is best for the next six years,” she said.

DeStefano (pictured) couldn’t resist the chance to pounce. He threw out this one-liner: “I pray that I’ll never be in politics so long that I’ll give an answer like that.”

Then he used the question to decry President Bush and the war in Iraq. Using his extra time to jump back to his central points, he advocated cutting corporate tax loopholes. He stressed the burden of property tax. “You want to know why property taxes are up? You want to know why children are arriving to kindergarten not ready to learn?” Money is being lost to corporate tax loopholes — and not being put towards working families through universal health care and universal pre-K.

No mistakes?

Spawning a second round of fumble-and-pounce (Rell fumbles, DeStefano pounces), candidates were asked to describe the the biggest mistake they’ve made.

DeStefano gave a concrete answer, “Trying to build a mall at the intersection of I-95 and I-91.” Then he went on to list ways New Haven has done well.

Rell gave no reply. “I was actually trying to think of the worst thing that possibly could have happened and I have to tell you, I don’t see it.” Unable to think of any mistakes, she instead took a stab at DeStefano for “continu[ing] to tear our state down in order to build himself up.”

DeStefano again couldn’t resist the chance to pounce: “I also heard the second answer that I hope I never [make] no matter how long I’m in politics,” he said: “That I’ve never made any mistakes’.”

After the debate, a campaign ally approached the mayor — “I know: Don’t yell,” said DeStefano, preempting the supporter’s advice, which was presumably that he should’ve been nicer to Rell, who’s been nursing a sweet, matronly public image, boosted by her recent survival of breast cancer.

Staying true for the most part to her non-combative, gentle persona, Rell resisted the chance to jump on DeStefano when he got nailed on one question: What about those immigrant ID cards we heard about, but disappeared until after the election? DeStefano didn’t directly respond. The controversial ID cards would have helped undocumented workers.

As for the rest of the debate, DeStefano said he felt that Rell “didn’t engage” his arguments on the topics he’d hammered away at: Most notably, how the state energy regulators missed an Oct. 1 deadline to announce new energy rates, and may be holding back news that rates will spike by as much as 50 percent. DeStefano also held her accountable for recent I-84 mishaps — a charge she didn’t respond to.

DeStefano also called her “oblivious” for insisting on a car tax repeal as a solution to rising property tax: “It’s the house tax, not the car tax — she doesn’t get it.”

After the debate, Rell took only one question.

Really, “No mistakes?” A reporter asked her as she greeted supporters on the theater floor.

“I didn’t say I’ve made no mistakes — I said I didn’t want to discuss those.” Then she slipped away, cheerfully declining further questions. “I’ve got to go find my husband.”

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