These are dark days for Democrats, but they may seem a lot brighter by Election Day.
With Connecticut’s U.S. Senate seat suddenly in play and a host of Republican challengers across the country leading in the polls, city GOP officials are increasingly giddy about their chances in the November 2 general election.
“People are feeling more connected to us now and they trust us,” said Whit Betts, the GOP candidate for the 78th District state House seat.
But Democrats are counting on voters to remember that Republicans have “sat on the sidelines” for years while their party pushed to improve the lives of America’s hard-pressed middle class.
“I don't believe Democrats will be taken down as harshly as everyone claims. The people will ultimately realize the good we have done,” said Christopher MacNeill, a Bristol Central High School sophomore who’s active in Democratic politics.
City Democratic leader Elliott Nelson said there’s a lot of talk of his party having “a bad year,” but he thinks that local candidates are in good shape.
“When it’s all said and done, we’re going to hold our seats and we’re going to probably pick up” the 78th District, where two veteran politicians are facing off for an open state House seat.
But Republicans say they can win 78th and the 31st District state Senate seat that Democrat Tom Colapietro has held for 18 years. They also hope to snag the 77th District seat that first-term state Rep. Chris Wright is trying to defend.
“We’re going to do something very special here in Bristol,” said T.J. Barnes, who chairs the city’s GOP.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said that traipsing along with the Republicans' U.S. Senate contender, Linda McMahon, "was like walking with a superstar."
He said that Bristol residents -- who tend to be blue-collar and Democratic -- showed real support for the former wrestling executive as she hoofed it for a few hours Sunday during Bristol's Mum Parade.
Betts said that after watching McMahon at the parade he thinks she has "a legitimate shot at being able to win Bristol" on Election Day.
"She's inspired a lot of people" with her personal story of rising from bankruptcy to riches, he said, while keeping that common touch.
Democrats said that Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who is trying to fend off McMahon for the Senate seat, also received a warm welcome as he marched in front of the American Legion banner. They said he remains popular.
Barnes said he sees "a new energy" in the party that is going to translate into victories at the polls that would not have seemed possible a few years ago.
A McMahon victory in Bristol would be a big step toward a statewide win for the Senate seat that Democrat Chris Dodd is giving up.
Blumenthal has been steadily sinking in the polls, unable so far to combat McMahon's millions or find the key to secure support from voters who once backed him routinely.
Barnes said that it's even more encouraging that his party has such strong local candidates, running for the state legislature, that they can not only win themselves, they can even help pull in votes for Republicans seeking statewide office.
But Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said the GOP is offering the same old tired arguments that it has long trotted out – and that voters have consistently rejected. He said he’s not worried.
Wright said he’s been knocking on many doors and working hard to earn another term in Hartford.
But even Nelson concedes the Republicans are doing better than usual.
“For the first time in a long time, they have some viable candidates,” Nelson said.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
19 comments:
All my union brothers and sisters join arm in arm to defeat Jason Welch .We will squesh him like a grape.
Jason Welch isn't the one offering up the same old tired arguments Mr. Colapietro. We're fed up and ready for change.
If you aren't worrying yet, you'd better start!
Sqesh? What grade are you in honey?
I never realized that denial was a river in Bristol .
Someone tell Elliott that the "women voters" he is so afraid of will be back!
I don't believe Mr. Nelson is afraid of "women voters"...maybe just a little annoyed by certain coniving ones. You know, the kind of person who'll take anonymous jabs at him, just for fun.
to 4:51
Then he needs to grow up.
5:05 PM: Grow up? A whining pest will annoy even the most mature person.
Perhaps the pest who takes pleasure in anonymously whining should follow your advice and "grow up?"
Yes, union brothers and sisters keep supporting Tom C. and he will continue to support union workers at places like Cerro Mfg., New Departure, Theis Steel, OZ Gedney, Pratt and Whitney. What has Tom really done for you? Every time I see a factory leave the area it is a union facility while the smaller non-union facilities survive.
Covello take the 78th?! Only if the voters have lost their memories.
Hey 5:45 - last I read, you spell your name a-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s.
Can you take your own advice.
I am a pest because I don't agree with you. LMFAO!
Yup 9:04 PM - I did spell my name a-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s and I anonymously took a jab at another anonymous person (you). You on the other hand, took a jab at Mr. Nelson, someone who isn't hiding behind a-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s. Get it now?
Oh, and you aren't a pest because I disagree with you, you're a pest because you're annoying. You know, like a mosquito in someone's ear. LMFAOROTF!
Steve rumor has it that Welch ia alicensed Insurance agent ? As a practicing attorney in Ct I do not recall this Welch being apart of the Ct Bar ?I guess we will rely on you to figure this out.
How can the dems say "people will realize the good we have done". That certainly does not apply to the budget process. When the dems raise the income tax becasue they won't make the necessary spedning cuts, then I guess we'll all be pleased with the good that they did. Wake up people!
The R's don't take 3 f 4, the leadership should resign!!!
No,7:55, I won't forget what "King Richard" Covello did. How he tried to get rid of the ambulance corps, ruined our roads by putting in rumble strips (without going through the traffic authority) and then trying to fill them in, refused to sign a contract with the police chief, gave the "greedy" library board a hard time, put the chairman of the police commission "on trial", and more. When we voted down the business park expansion, he brought it to a second vote. The economic devolpment commission was fined for promoting it, and now look what we've got: a money pit. No tenants, just a drain on the taxpayers.
No, I won't forget. I'm voting for Whit Betts.
3:06 Nice try with more lies. Didn't they negotiate three times for the budget? And didb't the Republican administration sign it? I guess you are trying to convince the people that you can do better! I think not because you would have to come forward. We know that won't happen.
7:50 You think I care?
7:33 PM: Nah, I know you don't care. Most annoying people are self-centered schmucks who don't. Blog on!
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