Days after her candidacy evaporated in a court decision, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz appeared at her party’s state convention, doling out newly outdated campaign swag.
“I have 750 ‘Bysiewicz for Attorney General’ T‑shirts — that and a buck will get you a cup of coffee,” she said.
Bysiewicz stood at the entrance way to the Democratic Party state convention at the CT Expo Center Friday evening, receiving hugs and condolences from a string of supporters.
“You’ll bounce back,” one supporter assured her.
She announced Thursday that she is no longer running for any office in 2010, after the state Supreme Court ruled her ineligible to run for attorney general.
“I’m still a little bit stunned and surprised” by the court decision, she said.
After she dropped out of the AG race, Bysiewicz was placed on the schedule to give a welcome address to her party at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s not where I thought I would be speaking in the program, but I’m happy to be here,” she said. She said she intends to thank her supporters, and to shift her attention to supporting other Democratic candidates in the fall.
Melissa Bailey Photo
Nearby, Omair M. Alam, the finance director for her erstwhile campaign, handed out an armful of T‑shirts. Her former staff set up a table and gave away lawn signs and stickers to passersby.
“Collector’s items, get ‘em while they’re hot!” Alam called out.
Bysiewicz declined to address murmurings that she’ll bide her time and run for U.S. Senate in 2012. She said she’s going to “take a deep breath” and reassess her prospects.
I would love to have one of those T-Shirts