Bristol sticks with its blue collar neighbors

Statewide voting patterns in Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary almost mirror the results of the bitter 2006 party primary in which Ned Lamont nudged aside U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination.
Central Connecticut’s blue collar towns, including Bristol and New Britain, backed Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid this time around just as they threw their support behind Lieberman two years ago.
But the larger cities and white collar suburbs put together enough votes to give Barack Obama the presidential primary win this week in the same way that they propelled Lamont to the U.S. Senate nomination.
Only six municipalities in Connecticut provided more votes to Clinton this week than Bristol did, all of them among the 10 cities and with larger populations than Bristol.
But 15 cities and town delivered more votes to Obama than Bristol, including smaller municipalities such as Greenwich, East Hartford, Fairfield, Windsor, Hamden and Middletown.
The biggest margin of victory for Clinton came in East Haven, where Democrats gave her 70 percent of the vote compared to just 28 percent for Obama.
Bloomfield and Cornwall both delivered more than 70 percent of the Democratic tally to Obama.
Clinton got her highest vote total in Stamford, where she picked up 6,094 votes.
Obama snagged 12,372 in New Haven. Hartford, Bridgeport and Stamford all gave more votes to Obama than Clinton got anywhere.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
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"Impressive" turnout in Bristol for presidential showdown

In the largest turnout for a presidential primary in the city’s history, Bristol voters threw their support behind Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Over 40 percent of the 18,749 eligible voters in the city – Democrats and Republicans, but no independents – cast a ballot despite rainy, foggy weather Tuesday.
“That’s impressive,” said Art Mocabee, the city’s Republican Party chief.
In the hottest contest of the day in Democrat-dominated Bristol, Clinton grabbed 57 percent of the vote compared to Barack Obama’s 41 percent.
“That’s close in this town,” said Mayra Sampson, a former city Democratic chairwoman who backed Obama.
Standing in the mist outside Stafford School, Rick Centoni said he'd come to cast a vote for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York."She's more qualified than anyone else," Centoni said.But, he said, he's impressed with Obama also and hopes that Clinton will tap him for her vice presidential running mate."They'd be a good ticket," Centoni said.At Greene-Hills School, Brian Brady said he's a registered Democrat, but never votes for them in the general election because the party isn't what it was.He said he voted for Clinton because he viewed her as the weaker candidate for the Democrats."I figured that would flip the burger to the cheesy side," he said, and perhaps help the GOP win in November.His wife, Kathy Brady, wasn't so calculating.She said she voted for Obama because "he represents change."
On the GOP side, McCain garnered 46 percent of the vote while Mitt Romney, his closest challenger, got 33 percent. Mike Huckabee snagged 11 percent.
"I'm happy," said Bristol city Councilor Mike Rimcoski, a McCain backer. "I think he'll lock it up tonight."
Registrars reported they were busy all day but had no problems at the polls aside from the number of independents who showed up hoping to vote.
City Clerk Therese Pac said she believes the turnout was higher than any previous presidential primary in Bristol.
But Terry Parker, an election official at Greene-Hills, said that municipal primaries sometimes attract more voters. A mayoral showdown in the 1970s between Frank Longo and Don Cassin drew a 57 percent turnout for a primary, he said.
Overall, there were 6,453 votes cast in the Democratic primary and 1,628 votes in the Republican primary. That means that a little less than half the Democrats in town voted Tuesday while only about a third of Republicans did.
The final tally indicates that McCain got 750 votes while Romney secured 547. Huckabee had 184 while Ron Paul collected 84.
On the Democratic side, Clinton rounded up 3,681 votes while Obama trailed with 2,588.
In both parties, a smattering of people voted for candidates who have dropped out or they picked uncommitted. The only other active candidate on the ballot, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, got nine votes.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
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Obama opens field office in Bristol

I haven't seen it yet, but a supporter of presidential hopeful Barack Obama tells me that the Illinois senator has opened a field office on Main Street "run by a great guy named Bobby Hoffman" who had earlier worked for the campaign in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Obama backer Al Marko said that the campaign's focus is on "personal, door-to-door contact" and getting out the vote, which is clearly the same strategy that Hillary Clinton's campaign is adopting.

"This strategy makes sense since in a primary you are targeting likely Democratic voters, not the general public," Marko said.

Of course, there's also a big rally in Hartford on Monday -- details were in an earlier post -- and celebrities are crisscrossing the state for both candidates. The Democrats' 2004 candidate John Kerry's helping out Obama, the president of Emily's List is pushing for Clinton and film director Ron Howard's out there rounding up votes for Clinton as well.

I haven't heard of any celebrities coming to Bristol, which is odd since I suspect that more Democrats will vote Tuesday in Bristol than in many more populated cities where turnout is typically anemic.

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Hillary going to New Haven Monday morning

No details yet, but Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton plans to host a “Solutions for the America” Roundtable in New Haven at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Two hours later, she will attend a "Solutions for America” Rally at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.
So Hillary and Obama won't be crossing paths in Connecticut Monday.

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Clinton campaign points to poll showing big Hillary lead in Connecticut

Presidential contender Hillary Clinton's camp is pointing to a new American Research Group poll that found Hillary with a 13-point lead over Barack Obama. Here's the data.
The only poll that counts is Tuesday, of course, then the voters decide.

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Colapietro backs Hillary

State Sen. Tom Colapietro sent this:

I think that Barack Obama is very charismatic and his policies are good but I give the edge to Hillary because she has a lot more experience than Obama. I like him a lot but I think she is a very intelligent, strong woman. At this time I will vote for her. The people that have talked to me seem to be for her as well.

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Minor supports Obama's bid for presidency

Democratic city Councilor Craig Minor, answering my query to a number of politicians, sent me this:

I'm supporting Barack Obama. I think Clinton failed to show responsible leadership when she jumped on the bandwagon to invade Iraq. I also think that the Democrats are a lock to win the White House, but if we run Clinton, she will energize Republicans who might otherwise stay home on Election Day.

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Obama takes the lead in Connecticut?

A new poll by SurveyUSA shows Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama taking the lead in Connecticut from Hillary Clinton, according to Connpolitics.tv and News Channel 8.

Clinton had held commanding leads, but polls show that she's been fading while Obama's stock continues to rise.

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The Showdown State

After years of being ignored by presidential candidates, Connecticut is suddenly a hotspot.
It now appears that both of the leading Democratic contenders, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton,will be in the state on Monday - the day before the Super Tuesday showdown that may decide which of them will be the party's nominee.
On Sunday, Republican front-runner John McCain will be in Fairfield County. He won Connecticut in a 2000 primary against George W. Bush, which clearly didn't carry him too far.
Details of the Clinton and Obama visits are uncertain and it's always possible the campaigns will shift their focus elsewhere as they look at the big picture.
But for now, it looks like Connecticut is the Showdown State.

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A surge in voter registration may help Clinton

A last-minute surge in voter registration is swelling the ranks of Democratic voters and perhaps bolstering U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s odds of winning Tuesday’s presidential primary in Connecticut.
As many as 22 people an hour have been signing up to vote in the primary, most of them independents who are joining the ranks of the Democrats in order to vote in the primary, city election officials said.
Cathy Myers filled in the necessary form Wednesday to switch to the Democrats from her longtime unaffiliated status.
“I didn’t realize I was losing out” before, she said, by letting party regulars pick the candidates for the general election.
This time around, though, she wanted her support for Clinton to count.
“Us women are sleepers,” Myers said. “We’re coming out of the closet” to help put a woman in the White House, she added.
“It’s time for a woman to be president,” said Yvette Badger, who was also changing her registration Wednesday so she could vote for Clinton on Tuesday.
Registrars Ellie Klapatch and Bob Badal said that some of those coming in are also backing Democrat Barack Obama or one of the Republican hopefuls, particularly U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
As of mid-day Wednesday, there were nearly 300 more people on the voting rolls than there were on Election Day in November – and Democratic ranks in the city had climbed well over 13,000 voters for the first time in years.
Democrats claimed the allegiance of 41 percent of the 31,940 voters on the ranks Wednesday, compared to 17 percent for the GOP, a number that hasn’t changed much for many years.
In the early 1980s, more than half the registered voters in town were Democrats, but by the last presidential election in 2004, the party claimed the allegiance of only 39.5 percent of the city’s electorate. Democrats gained slightly before the 2006 congressional elections, but the positive trend has accelerated in recent months.
Nora Anderson, the secretary in the registrar’s office, said she’s been stunned at the pace of registration. She said about 60 percent of those coming in are women.
Badal, the Democratic registrar, said “a lot of people want to be part of the process.”
Badal said he has seen mostly young and middle age voters signing up to vote in the primary, with more women than men among them. He said, though, he can’t be sure whether Obama or Clinton will benefit most from the registration surge.
The only thing he’s sure about is that voting in the primary is likely to be brisk. Badal said he’s already ordered more ballots twice to make sure he doesn’t run out Tuesday.
Klapatch, the GOP registrar, said that Democrats and Republicans seem especially enthusiastic about the candidates this year.
Badal said he wouldn’t be surprised if primary turnout exceeds 50 percent on the Democratic side, particularly if forecasts for relatively mild temperatures prove accurate.
Klapatch said that concern about the large numbers who might come to the polls has convinced school officials and the police to put police officers or hired security at every polling place in the city’s schools during school hours.
The city is paying about $3,000 for the extra security, Klapatch said, which is a first.
Voters will fill in special paper ballots – salmon-colored for the Democrats and white for the Republicans – which will be counted by a machine.
The ballots contain the names of a number of candidates who are no longer in the race, but all of the significant remaining contenders are among the names on the ballots.
The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The in-person deadline for registering or affiliating with a political party in order to vote is noon on Monday, February 4. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by Thursday to qualify.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Hillary's stop in Hartford

Two stories by reporter Jackie Majerus follow:

HARTFORD – A campaign stop in Connecticut gave Sen. Hillary Clinton a chance to return to familiar territory, she told an enthusiastic crowd at The Learning Corridor Monday.
"It's a personal pleasure to be back in Connecticut," said Clinton.
As law students at Yale more than 30 years ago, Clinton said, she and Bill Clinton would make Sunday trips to Hartford.
"Bill had this old beat up car," said Clinton, who said it was an Opal. "It was the kind of car that was held together with duct tape."
She said they enjoyed exploring Connecticut.
"We went from one end of the state to the other," she said. "It is such a beautiful state."
Now, as a U.S. senator from New York, Clinton said she likes being neighbors with Connecticut.
Clinton came in with state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, an old friend from her days at Yale.
"He is generally believed to be the best attorney general in the entire United States of America," Clinton enthused, adding that they share an opposition to the proposed Broadwater liquid natural gas facility in Long Island Sound.
"It is an honor to be standing side by side with him," Clinton said.
Addressing an overflow crowd in the school, which is part of the Capitol Region Education Council, Clinton got the most applause when she noted that Monday night's State of the Union speech will be the last one given by President George W. Bush.
"If we all do our part, next year, it'll be a Democratic president," said Clinton.
When Bush finishes his speech Monday night, said Clinton, "it will be time for all of us to turn our attention to picking the next president."
"That's you, baby," a supporter shouted.
Clinton, who spoke for about a half hour before taking questions for another 20 minutes, said the country is at a "turning point," with much work to do on issues like health care, education, the war in Iraq and good jobs.
"America is ready for an election that sets a new agenda," said Clinton, "an election that brings back that confidence and optimism that should be our birthright."
The election, said Clinton, is about the next generation.
"Right now, we borrow money from the Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis," said Clinton. "I believe we can do better than that."
If she's the Democratic nominee, Clinton said, she will "get up every single day and wage a winning campaign" against the Republican candidate.
She said she's ready, having been on the "receiving end" of Republican fire for years.
"Much to their dismay, I'm still standing here," she said.
What matters is whether people "are better off than when we started," said Clinton, such as whether children have health insurance, whether a man whose job has been moved offshore can "have any hope left," whether a woman is earning equal pay for equal work and whether families are getting the support they need.
"If we are serious about family values, let's start valuing families," said Clinton. "Pay has not kept up. People are working hard and they're not getting ahead."
Clinton said she wants to bring back "American leadership and moral authority in the world," starting with an end to the war.
"We are strongest when we lead with our values," said Clinton. "Military force should be used only as a last resort, not as a first resort."
She said she would start troop withdrawal within six months of taking office. She said she believes the U.S. can bring out "one to two brigades a month" and begin to turn the job over to the Iraqis.
"The era of cowboy diplomacy is over," said Clinton. "We are going to be engaged with everyone again."

and

HARTFORD – Support for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign got a big boost in Connecticut Monday when she made a stop at The Learning Corridor magnet school in Hartford.
"We're going to make history by choosing Hillary Clinton," said state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
Blumenthal said he's known Clinton to be a person with "enormous conviction, compassion and caring" since they met as students at Yale Law School about 35 years ago.
"Her heart is with real people with real problems, making a difference, making changes," said Blumenthal. "She has enormous compassion, but she is a fighter. She is a leader who will fight for change on day one. Hillary knows what it takes to get our economy moving again."
State Comptroller Nancy Wyman said Clinton will be able to "give our country the comeback it deserves."
Under Clinton, America will come together again, said Wyman, and the middle class will grow and prosper.
"For her, politics is not a game," said Wyman. "It is about people's lives."
Wyman, who said she values family above all else, said she feels completely comfortable putting her precious grandchildren and their future into Clinton's hands.
"The stakes have never been higher," said Wyman. "The time to take action is now."
"She's the right choice for us," said Dave Roche of Bristol. "She believes in labor."
More importantly, Clinton supports organized labor, said Roche, who is the business manager for Local 40 of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association.
The union, which has about 600 members statewide, has endorsed Clinton and is taking an active role in her campaign, Roche said.
"She wants to fix this health care system and get the middle class up and going again," Roche said.
Connecticut House Speaker James Amann, who attended Clinton's appearance at the school, which is part of the Capitol Region Education Council, said he would officially endorse Clinton on Tuesday.
Amann said he was leaning towards supporting her primary rival, Barack Obama until a couple weeks ago, he said more research told him the Illinois senator hadn't done enough to warrant his support.
"Though I like him a lot, and I do," said Amann, with the situation in Iraq, Iran and North Korea today, "we need someone who has a little more experience."
A Clinton-Obama ticket, said Amann, "would be our Democratic dream."
State Rep. Jason Bartlett, a Bethel Democrat who is co-chair of Clinton's Connecticut campaign, revved up the crowd before Clinton's arrival, urging them to "tear down the barriers" and elect the first woman president.
"Hillary is one of us," said Bartlett, regaling the audience with stories about Clinton's work with children, support for the working class, education, health care and the environment.
"Like our Lady Huskies, Hillary knows how to play some ball," said Bartlett. "Hillary knows how to win."
Eric Bernstein, principal and director of the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science, part of The Learning Corridor where Clinton spoke, waited with his students for Clinton to arrive. He said it was wonderful that Clinton was visiting the school.
"Regardless of your political views, it's a great opportunity," said Bernstein.
Atticus Kelly of New Britain, a 14-year-old student at The Learning Corridor, attended the speech with his class.
"She told us what we wanted to hear, which is good," said Kelly, who said Clinton discussed health care, No Child Left Behind and "lots of things that we worry about."
Kelly said he largely agreed with Clinton.
"She had solid answers," Kelly said.
Blumenthal said he's often asked whether he and his classmates at Yale figured Bill Clinton would one day become President.
"Most of us said Hillary's going to be President," Blumenthal said.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Making what we believe in "real"

"How do we translate our beliefs in to action? How do we go from a campaign where we make speeches, the people stand up and cheer and clap loudly, into making what we believe, real?" - Hillary Clinton, in Hartford this morning

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton still needs to fine-tune the words, but the point she's making is both barbed and worthwhile.
The rap against Barack Obama, who's running neck-and-neck with the New York senator, is that he lacks experience. What Clinton is doing is trying to show why that matters.
It's not enough to sound good and promise change, she points out. What matters, in the end, is can you deliver? And that's just as true for the Republican candidates as the Democratic ones.
We don't elect presidents to give speeches, after all. We pick them to lead our country in the right direction, to compromise when necessary and to stand firm when that's required. We want our leaders to get things done. We want them to deliver peace and prosperty, now and into the future. We want them to make us proud. We want them, in short, to be better than they can possibly be.
And we'd like to see it happen without the bitterness that has marred our politics for far, far too long.
With Clinton, there's no doubt the hard feelings of long-ago battles will linger, on both sides. With Obama, perhaps the era of hyperpartisanship can pass.
Obama presents a true dilemma for Democratic loyalists, who sense that he has the potential for greatness.
But he also, they recognize, might muck up the opportunity because he doesn't know how it's all done.
Clinton, of course, knows how the White House works and knows what it takes to get there.
It remains a fascinating primary.

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Hillary focuses on Bush during Hartford campaign stop

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton relegated her chief Democratic rival to the rhetorical sidelines Monday and focused her criticism on President Bush, saying he had lost touch with the concerns of an anxious public.

In a speech to more than 1,000 people jammed in a gymnasium, Clinton did not refer to the fight with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Her audience, which included an equal number listening in an adjoining room, roared with approval when the former first lady took note of the Republican president's dwindling time in office.

"Tonight is a red-letter night in American history," she said. "It is the last time George Bush will give the State of the Union. Next year it will be a Democratic president giving it."

Bush is isolated at the White House, Clinton said, inviting the president to join her in meeting the kind of people she has come across during her campaign. "Sit at tables at diners and hear what's on America's mind," she suggested.

"I have been in and out of the homes and work places and community centers across America. What they want to talk to me about is the insecurity they feel and the fears they are confronting," she said.

The competition between Clinton and Obama has grown increasingly testy heading into next week's enormous round of primaries. But at least on this day, Clinton took on Bush, using the State of the Union address to highlight her differences with the commander in chief.

Bush is certain, she said, to assert that the state of the nation is strong even though "we are sliding into a recession. We have as lot of concerns we need to deal with," including a mortgage crisis that is driving people from their homes.

In Clinton's estimation, Bush "has never understood is that the State of the Union is not about a speech in Washington. It is about the lives of the American people who feel they are moving toward the American dream."

The woeful housing market, she said, is evidence of the economic insecurity that millions of people are sensing — concerns she said are not registering in the White House.

"It is about people and will they be able to stay in their homes or will they lose their homes," said Clinton. "It is about where we as a nation will restore our leadership and our moral authority."

Clinton's scheduled included stops in Hartford and then Massachusetts before returning to Capitol Hill for Bush's final State of the Union address.


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Anyone going to see Hillary in Hartford?

If you go see Hillary Clinton in Hartford on Monday morning, we'd sure love to hear your impressions. Send us an email, give us a phone call or post a comment here (but, please, not anonymously).

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Hillary speaking in Hartford 9:30 a.m. Monday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2008

Hillary Clinton Headed to Connecticut Monday

HARTFORD – The Clinton Campaign today announced that Hillary Clinton will attend a Solutions for the American Economy Town Hall in Hartford, CT on Monday, January 28 at 9:30 am. Additional details will follow.
WHEN: Monday, January 28, 2008, 9:30 AM
WHERE: The Learning Corridor
Commons Gymnasium
43 Vernon Street

*Parking Available at the corner of Brownell Avenue and Washington Street*
###

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Dodd endorsing Hillary?

I can't think of another reason Hillary Clinton would be coming to Connecticut. We're just not that important in the presidential sweepstakes.

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Hillary coming to Hartford on Monday

New press release from presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton:

HARTFORD – The Clinton Campaign today announced that Hillary Clinton will attend a morning event in Hartford, CT on Monday, January 28. Additional details will follow.

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Clinton Releases First TV Ad in Connecticut

Here's a press release from Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton:

HARTFORD - In a new thirty-second television ad Hillary highlights her commitment to reviving our struggling economy and her fight against the Bush administration who has ignored this country’s struggling middle class.
Hillary warned President Bush last spring to take action on the mortgage crisis that was affecting homeowners here in Connecticut and across the country, but those homeowners remained invisible to this administration.
"Hillary Clinton knows that many families in Connecticut are struggling to keep up in this receding economy," said State Senator Gayle Slossberg. "This ad shows her commitment to standing up for the people of Connecticut and ensuring that they are not left behind. We need a leader that will be ready on day one to take the helm and create positive change for America. That leader is Hillary Clinton."
Hillary knows that the time to address the receding economy is now.
That is why she recently proposed a $ 110 billion economic package to provide tax rebates to middle class families, assist families with skyrocketing energy costs, invest in clean energy technology and support workers who have lost their jobs.
To protect the millions of Americans who live in fear of losing their homes in 2008, Hillary has called for a moratorium of at least 90 days on home foreclosures; a freeze on the fluctuating rates on sub-prime loans for at least 5 years until they can be converted into fixed rate, affordable loans; and regular status reports on the progress in converting unworkable mortgages into loans families can.
Hillary believes that investing in American alternative fuels will establish a green, efficient economy and create as many as five million new jobs, while at the same time reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and address the looming climate crisis. The people of Connecticut cannot afford to pay three dollars a gallon when that money is going straight to the middle east, not in our own economy.
As President, Hillary will ensure that the working families who are being left behind in this economy, here in Connecticut and across the country, will no longer be invisible.
Read the transcript of "Warned" below or view it online at:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/video/112.aspx

“Warned” TV :30

Announcer: Our economy is in real trouble.
And while George Bush helps his friends, the middle class gets slammed.

Hillary Clinton warned Bush last March to act or homes would be foreclosed.
Bush did nothing, and two million homes may be lost.

We need a proven leader. Hillary's emergency economic plan: freeze foreclosures,
provide immediate tax rebates for the middle class, create millions of new jobs.

We need more than talk- We need solutions.
Hillary Clinton: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
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Hillary talks about Connecticut economy

Press release from Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton:

Hillary Clinton released the following statement today following several stories in the Connecticut press this week concerning the growing economic problems facing the state:
“Recent stories of the growing economic problems facing Connecticut are deeply troubling to me. From rising fuel prices and energy costs, to concerns about increasing property taxes and college tuition rates, working families across Connecticut are being left behind and ignored by this Administration. Our country is sliding into recession, and the people of Connecticut are looking for a hands-on leader to manage our economy and hold government accountable for delivering results.
“I’ve proposed a $ 110 billion economic package to provide tax rebates to middle class families, assist families with skyrocketing energy costs, invest in clean energy technology and support workers who have lost their jobs. I’ve also outlined a comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis, calling for a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures and a 5-year freeze on adjustable rate subprime mortgages to help hundreds of thousands of Americans stay in their homes.
“Working families who are being left behind in this economy, here in Connecticut and across the country, will no longer be invisible when I am President.”
Hillary continues her focus on the economy today with campaign events outlining her stimulus plan to jumpstart the economy, including investing in clean and alternative energy that could create 5 million new “green collar” jobs.
For more information on Hillary Clinton’s plan to strengthen the middle class, click here.

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