Murphy SOS Goes Out In Charlotte

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by Melissa Bailey | Sep 4, 2012 1:48 pm

(10) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Campaign 2012

Melissa Bailey Photo CHARLOTTE, N.C.—A week after polls showed Democrats in danger of losing a Connecticut U.S. Senate seat, the message went out quickly at the national party convention: Help Chris Murphy.

Connecticut Democrats focused on Murphy as his race against Republican Linda McMahon for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat becomes increasingly tight. With just two months to go before the general election, the race is neck-and-neck, according to two polls released last week. The two parties are fighting this year for control of the U.S. Senate, with the outcome uncertain. McMahon has gained considerably on Murphy in recent weeks amid a barrage of TV ads targeted largely at women; alarm bells have gone off nationally among Democrats as a result.

The Murphy Save Our Ship message emerged before the convention even officially began Monday, then continued Tuesday morning over hash browns and scrambled eggs at a campaign brunch.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who’s leading an 88-person Connecticut delegation to the Democratic National Convention here, lit the first flare at a cocktail kickoff Monday night.

“We’ve got a Senate race in Connecticut which we cannot lose,” he told the crowd gathered in the “hospitality suite” of the DoubleTree by Hilton near the airport, where the delegation is staying this week.

He drew applause as he lauded Murphy’s candidacy and track record in Congress. Then he sent out a plea.

“If you applauded, and you have not yet written a check” to Murphy’s campaign, “make sure you do.”

The SOS message continued Tuesday morning.

During a visit to the Connecticut delegation, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the DNC, called the race “crucial” for Democrats to hang onto power in the Senate.

“This is so important,” said former Connecticut U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, who addressed the delegation over breakfast at the hotel. “We in Connecticut need to make sure that that seat—the seat my father held—remains in good hands.”

“It is stunning” how many TV ads McMahon is running, said Dodd, who held his Senate seat for 30 years.

“That seat is not for sale.” he declared.

Murphy had raised $5.5 million as of the latest campaign filing on July 25; McMahon had raised over $14 million, a large part from her own pocket book. She is on track to spend $50 million or $60 million on the race, a pace Murphy can’t keep up with.

Asked about the recent polls, Malloy objected: “You guys are writing like it’s unbelievable.” He said the polls are believable because of the amount of money McMahon has poured into her campaign.

Reached by phone, McMahon spokesman Todd Abrajano rejected the notion, repeated often Tuesday, that McMahon is trying to buy the election.

“I think the voters of Connecticut are smarter than would allow someone to just buy a Senate race. Linda has been working harder in this campaign than Chris Murphy has,” he said. “While Chris Murphy is down in Charlotte living it up at his Democratic National Convention, Linda is up here in Connecticut meeting with voters and talking about issues that matter.”

Malloy said if he were Murphy, “I’d raise a little money and get back to Connecticut.”

U.S. Rep. John Larson agreed.

“He’s up against a tidal wave of money,” said Larson. “He’s got to raise money here” before returning home.

Murphy said he plans to make his Charlotte trip short. He arrived Monday evening and plans to head back Wednesday afternoon, before the convention ends.

He said he doesn’t plan any formal fundraisers in Charlotte. He did solicit help from Democratic insiders at a campaign brunch

Tuesday morning, after a breakfast at the hotel, he invited the delegation to a swankier affair than their hotel breakfast: brunch at the Capital Grille in Uptown Charlotte, where most of the convention action is taking place.

A sculpture of a fierce eagle overlooked the white tablecloths of the dining room.

Friends of Chris Murphy paid for a spread of hash browns, scrambled eggs, fruit salad, bacon, blueberry muffins and boxed cereal.

Dodd ate a muffin with a fork and Murphy picked at a fruit salad as they chatted over brunch. Murphy said Dodd has been a mentor to him for decades. As a college kid, Murphy worked for Dodd. Murphy said Dodd gave him advice on the race Tuesday; he said the details were private.

Dodd declined to comment on his conversation or to share what advice he has for Murphy: “I’m out of politics now,” he claimed.

After chatting with Dodd, Murphy worked the room, which buzzed with the kind of Democrats who run phone banks, raise money, and organize vote-pullers on Election Day.

“Tell me what I can do for you when I get home,” offered Fran Eddings (pictured) of Madison, who runs a website called Million Women Speak Out.

Paul Wallace (pictured with Sheila Hayes of Norwich), a delegate from New Haven and a staffer at AFSCME Council 4, said he hadn’t donated to Murphy’s campaign, but he plans to heed Malloy’s request to do so.

“We will—today or tomorrow,” he said.

Hayes said she worked hard in the primary and plans to do so in the general election.

Charles Lee of Greenwich said he plans to host a fundraiser in his home featuring 2006 Senate candidate Ned Lamont and current U.S. Sen. Dick Blumenthal.

“We have to do what we can to counteract Linda’s money. It’s tough,” he said.

“There’s one way to be happy as a Democrat in Greenwich: raise money,” he added. “That’s what we do.”

As he made his way around the room, Murphy shared his take on the polling data with his supporters. He declined to share his analysis with the press.

He downplayed last week’s polls. Swing voters don’t make up their minds until the World Series is over, he said.

He said Tuesday’s event aimed to “galvanize our Connecticut supporters.”

“We can’t outspend McMahon,” he said. “When you have a candidate trying to buy the race,” he said, you need “grassroots” support to beat her. “My friends need to be committed to spending the next two months of their lives” spreading the word about his campaign.

Paul Nuñez of New Haven said he plans to do “whatever they need me to do” to help Murphy win.

In order to win, Murphy has “got to continue to define himself,” Nuñez said.

“He’s got to reach out to the Latino constituency,” added Nuñez, who’s Puerto Rican.

Asked if he donated to Murphy’s campaign, Nuñez said, “It’s possible.” He said he’s given to a lot of Democrats. “I lose track.”

“I could give more,” he said.

Comments

posted by: anonymous on September 4, 2012 2:02pm

Chris is totally overwhelmed on the airwaves.

Linda is spending that much so that she can give herself, and her super rich friends, some really, really big tax cuts.

Someone has to pay for that strategy eventually, and it definitely won’t be Linda.

posted by: Threefifths on September 4, 2012 2:36pm

Paul Nuñez of New Haven said he plans to do “whatever they need me to do” to help Murphy win.

In order to win, Murphy has “got to continue to define himself,” Nuñez said.

“He’s got to reach out to the Latino constituency,” added Nuñez, who’s Puerto Rican.

The Latino constituency as Blacks need to form there own Party andget out of the white male control two party system.In fact latinos did have there own party at one time call The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party founded by Pedro Albizu Campos and José Coll y Cuchí.

http://www.pnpr.org/youth/

“Tell me what I can do for you when I get home,” offered Fran Eddings (pictured) of Madison, who runs a website called Million Women Speak Out.

Help blacks get out of the white male control two party system and form our own party.

http://www.zcommunications.org/fannie-lou-hamer-and-the-mississippi-freedom-democratic-party-by-alice-leuchtag

posted by: Threefifths on September 4, 2012 2:49pm

This speaks the truth.

http://weknowmemes.com/2012/08/different-animals-same-shit/

posted by: PH on September 4, 2012 4:35pm

A vote for Linda McMahon is a vote for the Tea Party, for assault weapons in every household, for endless war funding, for religion in your government and for tax breaks for corporatist millionaires. A vote for Linda McMahon is a vote against women, against the middle class, against education funding and against basic health care for all Americans.

She may not espouse these views, but make no mistake, if elected she will vote the Republican party line each and every time. If you want the Republicans putting padlocks on your uterus and making you pray in school, vote for the wrestling queen. If you don’t want those things, vote for Murphy.

posted by: NoClovers on September 4, 2012 6:22pm

How about this?....Lets vote ‘none of the above’. Voting for the lesser of two evils,, is still voting for evil. Do not give them your consent to be continually abused. ‘The two party system; now featuring one more option than Communist Cuba.’ Insanity defined I tell ya. Go vote for your D’s and R’s, see where it gets you.

posted by: cedarhillresident! on September 4, 2012 7:41pm

NoClovers

I think many agree, we all have lost faith in the partys. I can not see anyone thinking that the government is not out of control and honorable people on both sides got involved for the right reasons but make so many compromises that they have all lost site….in the belief that this is what they have to do to make a difference and to keep or get that seat. And despite 3/5’s ramblings (to many) he is right. Run off voting needs to happen but big money is NEVER going to let that happen. So the choice is the lesser evil. It is not right. And I hate voting for someone that has made to many back door deals to the point that I do not trust the regular peoples best interest is nothing less than a one liner in an ad. For example this race…it is Linda or Chris… do we really think that Linda is going to vote for or against anything that will effect her familys buss. bottom line?? Really?? If she does it will bring jobs back home, but it will cost her husband and companys like them alot….OR WILL IT??? If you bring the jobs back here, that means that the american people will work and spend more!! It many cost them in the begining…but if they turn us into a third world country. They to will crash and burn.

ok rambling…I have to vote for the lesser evil…because me not voting can end up butting the evil one in office!

posted by: Mouseman on September 4, 2012 10:56pm

Chris Murphy needs more of your money? Maybe Chris Dodd can share some the savings of his sweetheart mortgage deal… or from the millions he made while in the Senate. Folks, it really is time for a change in Washington.

posted by: Threefifths on September 4, 2012 11:01pm

@cedarhillresident.
Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. Next time, go all out and write in Lucifer on the ballot.

I will never never ever vote for the lesser of two evils.They have duped into thinking that there is only two parties. You can do a write in.I will be writng in him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-RvJjYSJNw

posted by: skyrocket27 on September 6, 2012 9:44am

A picture is said to say a thousand words. The pictures of Hollywood’s chief promulgator and protector of its sex and violence industry, Chris Dodd, and Congressman Murphy is priceless.

@PH-with 23 million Americans unemployed, household income down over 5% over the past three years, record debt and failure to pass a budget in over 3 years I think we adults have more important issues to address in the political discourse than the parroted regurgitated distractions you picked up from the Murphy campaign.

Connecticut needs and deserves better.

posted by: HhE on September 6, 2012 9:51am

PH, do you really think that Linda McMahon is going to impose a Swiss militia system on us? Willing tool of the Tea Party and all that, no doubt, but “...for assault weapons in every household,...” is a bit of a stretch.

For the record, I will not be voting for Chris Murphy, but I will be voting against Linda McMahon.

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