New Haven Independent

Blumenthal’s In

by Christine Stuart, Melissa Bailey, and Paul Bass | January 6, 2010 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)

Hartford — Connecticut’s longtime senator-in-waiting dispatched with a decade-old Hamlet routine Wednesday and leaped right into the race to succeed Chris Dodd.

Dick Blumenthal announced the leap at a 2:30 p.m. press conference at state Democratic Party headquarters.

He announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination in the 2010 race for the U.S. Senate. The five-term incumbent, Christopher Dodd, startled the state (sort of) earlier Wednesday by announcing he’s ending his reelection campaign amid a nose dive in popularity.

“I intend to be a candidate for the United States Senate. I will be making a formal announcement very, very shortly. But I want to leave no doubt today that I intend to be a candidate,” declared Blumenthal, 63, standing at a podium in front of a “Connecticut Democrats” banner.

The setting underscored the state party establishment’s expected support for Blumenthal’s move.

Once a rising star in state politics, Blumenthal has been stuck in one position since 1990: the attorney general’s office. He has been among the state’s most recognized and popular elected officials in that spot. But he has repeatedly raised expectations about, then backed off, from launching bids for governor or senator; it became a Hamlet routine of “to run or not to run,” inevitably ending in a “not.”

That hesitation evaporated faster than dew in the summer sun Wednesday. Even before Dodd made his formal announcement at a noon press conference, Blumenthal began telling reporters that he’s unequivocally making the Senate leap.

In his brief remarks, Blumenthal praised Dodd effusively — then cast his campaign in a different light from that cast on Dodd in recent months. Dodd’s opponents have pilloried him as a captive of financial companies and other special interests in Washington; and as a protector of the status quo. He spoke of lawsuits he has filed against tobacco companies and the federal government.

“I’ve never walked away from a fight. I will be a fighter in Washington for change,” Blumenthal said. “I will stand strong against scams and special interests. And I will make a priority the people of our state in the United States Senate and fight for them first, and last and always.”

He vowed to “change the way that Washington works” and “bring back jobs.”

Blumenthal told reporters Wednesday that he has received “a lot of encouragement” to run. That included a phone call from President Barack Obama. According to White House sources, Obama called Blumenthal Wednesday evening to congratulate him on announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. The president wished him well on his campaign and told him that he would be happy to help if there was anything he could do to assist.

“I have two dead cell phones right now,” Blumenthal quipped at the press conference.

Baby Boomer Openings

Blumenthal spoke in a hot, crowded room at the party headquarters on the third floor of a Main Street office building in Hartford. The air was thick with anticipation — as much about the future of the assorted politicians considering their next moves, as about Blumenthal’s intentions, which were known before he started speaking.

Blumenthal’s announcement shakes up at least two statewide races, if not more.

He’s the instant front-runner in the Senate race against three Republicans and a fellow Democrat. A new poll came out Wednesday showing Blumenthal clobbering the Republicans in the race. Click here for the release from Public Policy Polling, which conducted it. “Chris Dodd’s retirement has shifted one of the Democrats’ most vulnerable seats to one of their safest,” the North Carolina-based outfit stated in a release.

Meanwhile, Blumenthal’s announcement means he’s not running for reelection for attorney general, the job he has held since 1990. That suddenly opens up a top position for a generation of Baby Boomers waiting to advance to higher office. More immediately, it forced some top Democrats to make a quick choice: Should they continue competing in a field of (at last check) ten candidates for the nomination for governor? Or should they switch to seeking the less-competitive attorney general spot? Top contenders like Susan Bysiewicz and Dan Malloy were among those faced with that dilemma.

Bysiewicz’s campaign spokeswoman acknowledged the new terrain.

“Did today open up another potential option? Yes,” said the spokeswoman, Tanya Meck. “She still has an exploratory committee for statewide office. She still wants to serve the people of Connecticut. She’s still exploring her options.”

Within moments of Blumenthal’s announcement Wednesday, a new candidate entered the field: former State Sen. and Democratic State Party Chairman George Jepsen announced he will seek to become the new attorney general. Read about that here.

Mary Glassman said she’s sticking with her current plan — to run for governor. She just filed her papers yesterday.

Senate Spin Vs. Spin

Dick Blumenthal had a 78 percent approval rating in the most recent Quinnipiac Poll, and only a 13 percent disapproval rating.

By contrast, Chris Dodd’s approval sank as low as 27 percent in the new PPP poll.

Three Republicans seeking Dodd’s seat, two of them new to politics, had been running ahead of him. They focused on his ethical controversies, among other issues.

“I think it’s a very different race” now, said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano. “Dick Blumenthal is a proven vote-getter, a popular politician. Most importantly people trust him. In many respects the campaign was not shaping up as one of change, but one of trust, between Dodd and the Republicans. Dick Blumenthal provides a pretty powerful answer to that anecdote.”

Within hours of the news breaking this morning, a new poll came out showing Blumenthal clobbering the Republicans in the race. Click here for the release from Public Policy Polling, which conducted it. “Chris Dodd’s retirement has shifted one of the Democrats’ most vulnerable seats to one of their safest,” the North Carolina-based outfit stated in a release.

The poll was conducted last week. It asked Connecticut voters about what was then a hypothetical Blumenthal candidacy. The results: Blumenthal topped Republicans Rob Simmons 59-28; Linda McMahon 60-28; and Peter Schiff 63-23.

“They were defining the campaign in terms of targets. Dodd was the target,” observed State Rep. Denise Merrill (who’s now running for secretary of the state). “Now that they’ve taken away the target, Republicans have to figure out what they do next. Do they focus on the issues?”

Republicans answered that question in releases issued Wednesday.

After “welcoming” Dick Blumenthal to the race, Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon portrayed him as another “career politician” like Dodd.

“It’s clear people have lost faith in Washington, and they do not believe the way to change Washington is to replace one career politician with another — particularly a candidate backed by the political establishment,” she said.

“Now that there is an open seat, I see an even better opportunity for Connecticut to elect a Republican to the Senate in November,” argued Tom Foley, who originally planned to run against Dodd, then switched to run for governor instead.

Another Democrat is also seeking the nomination, Merrick Alpert. He campaigned at a Plainville food pantry Wednesday morning while the nation’s media focused on Dodd and Blumenthal. He said he will “absolutely” remain in the race.

“While some of the players may change, the issues facing the people of Connecticut don’t,” Alpert said. He will need a new brand of soap, though; click here to read about that.

An independent take came from labor leader Leo Canty. He called Blumenthal a “great guy” but doubted he, or any other candidate, could waltz into the Senate and wield the kind of power Dodd did after accumulating three decades of seniority.

“Dick Blumenthal is a great guy,” said Canty, vice-president of the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. “But is he going to walk in and step in Dodd’s shoes and make the same kinds of decisions and move the same kind of agenda? No. No matter who gets elected, they will not be able to take Dodd’s power with them.”

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Comments

Posted by: Gretchen Pritchard | January 6, 2010 8:12 AM

Thank you Chris for doing the right thing to keep this seat Democratic. You're a mensch.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | January 6, 2010 9:23 AM

I would not trust Blumenthal. He reminds me of Trickey Dick President Nixon. Notice they have the same first name.

Posted by: Westville CT | January 6, 2010 9:23 AM

Dodd's contributions are undeniable but it's great when he himself can realize that it's time to move on for the state's sake. I hope Lieberman comes to the same realization when it's his turn!

Posted by: streever | January 6, 2010 9:28 AM

Sorry to hear it--you've done quite a bit Mr Dodd, and I'm sorry that you took such a beating last year. You did the right thing in giving Obama the legislation he wanted, even though it turned out poorly, and you're now being blamed for the AIG scandal. You did it out of respect for an incoming president & I don't think you can be faulted for not realizing how it would play out.

Richard Blumenthal is an excellent replacement--I'm happy it's him running. His office has been enormously helpful--responsive & quick--when AT&T charged me 3,000 dollars incorrectly and refused to fix their mistake, one e-mail to Attorney General Blumenthal lead to the President of AT&T's secretary calling me and fixing everything in a phone call. Any politician who responds that quickly & helpfully is a good politician.

Posted by: Walt | January 6, 2010 9:34 AM

Not Blumenthal, please,

Just a bag of wind who seems to call a press conference daily to announce a new venture which rarely, if ever, results in anything worthwhile.

Just another Dodd without the advantage of Dodd's seniority.

Posted by: JAK | January 6, 2010 9:47 AM

A "Mensch"?

Thats a cynical view of how democracy should work. The sentiment you express suggests that with this decision, Dodd has somehow GIVEN and SACRIFICED himself for the benefit of his constituents.

The role of senator is a PRIVILEGE, not a right. With his poor judgement recently, he violated this privilege. And with this decision to drop out, he gave us back something that was ours to begin with.

Dodd is a public servant who has done a good job for many years representing CT. in the house and the senate. He was a thoughtful and skillful leader on a whole host of issues over the years. He made most of us proud that he was the senior senator from CT. But he is also a man who at some point decided to compromise the principles that all elected officials need to keep dear.

Senator Dodd has had a good career and on balance his good work outweighs his errors. But its time for him to go, and he isn't mensch-like for doing so.

Posted by: cba | January 6, 2010 10:41 AM

Dodd was astute enough to realize that his clown antics would no longer be tolerated y the citizens of Connecticut. I wish him luck when he relocates to Washington,Ireland or Iowa

Posted by: Tim | January 6, 2010 10:52 AM

I dont know what would be worse, another Dodd term or Blumie as our senator. Heres hoping Schiff wins!

Posted by: Bruce | January 6, 2010 10:56 AM

They say the most dangerous place in CT is any point between Blumenthal and a camera.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | January 6, 2010 12:47 PM

Chris Dodd has served CT very well. It is disheartening to see how many CT residents, the media and the various opportunistic others have been pouncing on him. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Chris Dodd has been a good and hard-working steward for CT; he is not perfect; no one is. At least he has behaved more honorably than Senator Lieberman; his behavior has been irresponsible and he has been deceptious in his recent conduct. We just have to look at how he conducted his last re-election campaign, and on his behavior in the Congress. Talk about opportunistic!

I believe that Richard Blumenthal will be a good representative for CT; unfortunately, we can never predict how anyone will behave under the incredible pressures that our political representatives often face. It seems that in CT Democrats face a harder battle than Republicans. In these difficult times not enough of us pay the required close attention to much of the media's inconsistencies and sometime hypocrisies. If some members of the national & state media were to be held (by citizens) to the same standards to which they hold politicians -- they would fail miserably.

Sadly, in our democracy, too many of us use the freedoms we have to cast malicious stones on people whose footsteps we could not walk in. Richard Blumenthal has more integrity in his little finger than many of those making silly and irresponsible comments such as referring to him as "Tricky Dickie."

Democracy is hard work; it is not for the faint of heart. All of us as citizens have a responsibility to make whatever positive contributions we can to our local, state and national community. If we are unable to do that, we should try to refrain from contributing negatively. I wish Senator Dodd and AG Blumenthal the best in the future. CT needs as many thoughtful, competent and committed public servants and citizens as it can get.

Posted by: Jon | January 6, 2010 4:43 PM

According to opensecrets.org, Chris Dodd raised $7.4 million and spent $8 million on his 2010 Senate campaign, which ran from 2005-2010.

What do you suppose he did with that $8 million? If he's dropping out, do people want their money back, or did they (Wall Street investment firms, banks, hedge funds, and insurance companies) already get what they paid for?

Posted by: The Truth | January 6, 2010 10:21 PM

Calling Blumenthal a Baby Boomer makes him look young and active. The fact is at 63 he is no spring chicken. I'm 63 and am not remembering things so well and am less active than I was ten years back. He has done the same job for 20 years so his brain must have atrofied. The fact he has not put himself up for higher office for 20 years indicates he is insecure and frightened of losing.

I am glad to see the end of Dodd who has been a puppet to the bankers who have raped us all. I don't want to see a weaker man as a Senator representing this State. I think we should all encourage Bysiezickz and Malloy to throw their hats in the ring. They are younger and more vigoros. I hate to have to say this but even Johnny Boy would be a better Senator.

Posted by: JR | January 7, 2010 12:55 AM

Thanks, Senator Dodd, for your service to the state and the nation.

The Family Medical Leave Act, early childhood education legislation, and all your other major legislative accomplishments will stand as an impressive legacy.

And good luck, future Sen. Blumenthal. Not that you need it. This one is going to be a blowout.

Posted by: Kathleen Wimer | January 7, 2010 1:59 AM

I am so happy Richard Blumenthal is running. Yes. They say the most dangerous place in CT is between him and a TV camera. I don't care. Good for him. Have you ever channel-surfed during local election night returns in CT? Blumenthal appears congratulating winners from New Haven to Bridgeport to Waterbury to Hartford to New London. He is the one candidate who can be in BOTH Connecticut and Washington simultaneously; he has the energy and commitment.

Posted by: Uncle Fred | January 7, 2010 3:35 AM

DeStefano said, "Dick Blumenthal provides a pretty powerful answer to that anecdote."

Was this a reporter error or was that a malaprop?

If so, shame on either the reporter, or the citizenry of New Haven.

Is our children learning? LOL

Posted by: The Questions | January 7, 2010 8:51 AM

Who will Dodd be working for in 2011?
J P Morgan ?
Goldman Sacks ?
AIG ?
How much will he be making ?
$1,000,000 a month ?
$1,000,000 a week ?
$1,000,000 a hour ?
$1,000,000 a minute ?

Posted by: DavidK | January 7, 2010 10:26 PM

For conservatives this is a twofor. We get rid of Dodd and now we can get rid of Blumenthal.

Posted by: Anon | January 7, 2010 11:03 PM

Please not another life time politician!!! Blumenthal only shows up where there are cameras. He is no better than what we already have. I want a new face to come out of the crowd. We can't continue to have the same people running. Dodd thanks for leaving may you and your big mouth head to Ireland and spend all the corrupted money you stole with guilt. Lieberman please go and take the useless Delauro with you. None of you have benefited Connecitcut in a long time. We need to stop voting with party lines and vote whats best for Connecticut thats why Chris Murphy needs to get voted out too.
Lets look at the candidates and not the party they represent and get the best candidate for Connecticut! Lets discontinue these long time/ lifetime politicians!!!

Posted by: cba | January 8, 2010 11:18 AM

Citizens of this country have the right to criticize their Senator Dodd For commentators to deride those comments as malicious is an attempt to limit the exercise of free speech and practice revisionist history. Memo to all Dodd apologists, your candidate is now unemployed because he refused to face the voters of this State and defend his actions

Posted by: Ralph | January 8, 2010 5:22 PM

Blumenthal has a personal vendetta against tobacco, including every tobacco company and now, it appears, against anyone who smokes tobacco. Get ready for $20/pack of smokes if he gets to be a "Law Maker." Doesn't sound like he wants to represent everyone from CT - just those who agree with him.

Posted by: Tom Harned | January 8, 2010 5:41 PM

CBA,

Dodd's actions were reviewed by a bipartisan Senate Ethics committee. They found no wrongdoing on his part and completely exonerated him. The fact that the Republicans who served on this committee did not find anything wrong with his actions - at a time when the Senate is an incredibly hostile and partisan group - says a lot. If the Republicans on this panel could have found even the slightest misconduct on the part of a ranking Democratic Senator, they would not have hesitated to bring it up and have Fox News run it on continuous loop for the next week.

Senator Dodd got a good deal on a loan. That's not criminal. He may have handled the questions about it very badly and failed to explain himself, even after being given the chance to do so repeatedly. Defending a politician who's served this state for over three decades does not qualify as "suppressing free speech", as you seem to suggest. You're free to smear Chris Dodd all you want, but don't be surprised when others point out that you're claims have no basis in fact.

Posted by: robn | January 9, 2010 10:41 AM

AG Blumenthal's candidacy is kindof exciting because he's been a public advocate for years, however, it might be difficult going from the role of bulldog to the role of consensus builder. Former New York AG-to-Governor Eliot Spitzer was regarded similarly to Blumenthal, and prior to Gov Spitzer's career ending scandal, his term as Governor was widely regarded as anemic and ineffective.

Posted by: DingDong | January 9, 2010 2:15 PM

"Lets look at the candidates and not the parties they represent" -- people say this all the time, but I disagree strongly. On almost all important issues, congressmen will vote with their parties. They make a symbolic bipartisan gesture here or there, but when it really counts they vote with their party. So please look at the party they represent.

Blumenthal’s In

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