You know the rules!
Posted on 08/13/2006 2:22:50 PM PDT by Graybeard58
The election in Connecticut for U.S. Senate isn't just testing the loyalties of Democrats.
The campaign of U.S. Rep. Nancy L. Johnson isn't saying whether the top-ranking Republican congresswoman, who represents the 5th District, is going to back Republican Alan Schlesinger in the race.
"She hasn't endorsed anybody yet," spokesman Brian Schubert said.
He declined to elaborate, or explain why Johnson might not endorse Schlesinger.
And there don't appear to be any top Republicans rushing to Schlesinger's side.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell, arguably the state's most popular Republican, is cool toward his candidacy. It is unclear if she will campaign for him at all.
Rell and George Gallo, the state chairman of the Republican Party, have even asked Schlesinger to reconsider his candidacy.
Schlesinger is downplaying the apparent tepid support from Republican leaders. He's also denying they are pressuring him to drop out for another Republican.
"Of course I am running, and I am not stepping aside for anybody," Schlesinger said.
But there are Republicans who can't see themselves voting for Schlesinger, or Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, the new Democratic nominee. Among them are Chuck Stango and Cathy Awwad, two party activists from Waterbury.
"What we have now is a potentially weak nominee who may or may not be able to build name recognition," said Stango, the city's Republican Party chairman.
"I'm sure we certainly are not the only people that came up with the fact that there needs to be some cross-party support for the senator. It's unfortunate that Alan isn't a candidate that a lot of Republicans are going to be able to support," said Awwad, a longtime member of the city's Republican Town Committee.
Republican support for the underdog Schlesinger campaign flagged in July because of news reports that Schlesinger had used a phony name to gamble at a Connecticut casino and had been sued over gambling debts at two New Jersey casinos.
At the time, Gallo and Rell asked Schlesinger to reconsider his candidacy. Not long afterward, Johnson did the same during a live interview on Connecticut Public Radio.
Gallo issued a statement Tuesday night that said Republicans have their best chance of winning a Senate seat since the 1970s because of incumbent U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman's defeat in the primary. However, the statement also pointedly didn't mention Schlesinger by name.
Lieberman is now planning to run as a petition candidate.
Johnson and U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd, issued statements supporting Lieberman's decision, though both stopped short of endorsing the senator.
U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District, expressed support for Lieberman before Schlesinger announced his candidacy, and he suggested Republicans consider cross-endorsing the senator earlier this year.
Schlesinger said only a few voters have asked about his standing with Rell and other Republican leaders.
"They really don't care whether Jodi Rell finds me as her favorite Republican," he said.
But Schlesinger can't count on campaigning with the widely popular Rell, something he wants to do.
"We haven't talked directly. Our campaigns have spoken, and that question was left open. Six weeks ago after we had that little misunderstanding, both campaigns agreed we would concentrate on our own campaigns, and left the door open to campaigning together," he said.
Schlesinger has been nagged by persistent questions about whether Republican leaders are angling to get him to drop out and name a new candidate.
"There is no pressure to get me out of the race ... There is no other Republican out there," Schlesinger said. "I am your Republican candidate, and I think people will be very comfortable with me when they get to know me."
Schlesinger makes Awwad so uncomfortable the Waterbury activist is prepared to support Lieberman if a Republican replacement isn't found.
"When Connecticut needs its voice heard, it's not a time to make radical changes in terms of Mr. Lamont or a rookie like Mr. Schlesinger. There will have to be some conversations on how we go forward," Awwad said.
Staff writer Steve Gambini contributed to this report.
It would be nice to have someone to support in that race.
Does anyone know who might replace him and when it has to be done by?
Is Schlesinger Pro Life?
Good question but I don't know the answer. Maybe someone will tell us.
There are sooooo many problems with Schlesinger as the candidate that it isn't very significant whether he's pro or anti. Truly. I researched him.
ProChoice but supports parental notification,
So all three candidates are Pro Abortion? The Peoples Republic of New England has major problems.
ANN COULTER
You know the rules!
Could we please either get
some support for Schelsinger
or a new Republican candidate to support?
What's with so many Republicans supporting Lieberman? It is embarassing. We have a great opportunity for a pick up here and our party is screwing it up.
[it is really dopey to abandon the Republican challenger, but then, GWB's endorsement will weaken him after the inevitable defeat in CT, and alienate anyone who voted for Lieberman -- including the man himself.]
White House dodges question on Connecticut Senate race
WTNH | Aug. 14, 2006
Posted on 08/14/2006 5:33:58 PM EDT by LarryOz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1683591/posts
Bush Not Yet Endorsing Schlesinger for Sen. in CT
Connecticut Post | 8/15/06 | PETER URBAN
Posted on 08/15/2006 5:12:26 PM EDT by Dr. Scarpetta
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684214/posts
GOP FOE OF JOE IS DEALT W. BLOW
New York Post | 9/15/2006 | MAGGIE HABERMAN
Posted on 08/15/2006 10:05:51 PM EDT by Jameison
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684402/posts
Bush will not endorse Republican opposing Lieberman
Reuters | 8/15/06
Posted on 08/17/2006 2:41:23 PM EDT by Xth Legion
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1685421/posts
[Lieberman retreats from his only conservative position, support for national security]
Crocodile Tears for Joe (not a profile in courage--distancing from GWB after primary loss)
townhall.com | Monday, August 14, 2006 | ROBERT NOVAK
Posted on 08/14/2006 5:11:34 PM EDT by Liz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1683581/posts
[but perhaps after all, Joe Lieberman will switch parties after winning the election]
Dem angst escalates
The Hill | 8/16/06 | Alexander Bolton
Posted on 08/15/2006 10:03:17 PM EDT by JeanS
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684400/posts
Joe Lieberman Arousing Top Democratic Party Backlash?
Unity '08 Blog | August 16, 2006 | Joe Gandelman
Posted on 08/18/2006 12:07:36 AM EDT by no dems
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1685692/posts
[Ned Lamont is another sleazy creepy crooked Dhimmicrat]
The Democrats Mean Business
OpinionJournal. com | August 16, 2006 | Ned Lamont
Posted on 08/16/2006 9:16:52 AM EDT by NJRighty
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684616/posts
Lamont's Secret Weapon [Exploiting campaign-finance loopholes.]
WSJ | August 15, 2006 | WSJ
Posted on 08/15/2006 7:55:08 AM EDT by Brilliant
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1683881/posts
Ned Lamont's True Colors
Waterbury Republican American | Sunday, August 13, 2006 | Waterbury Republican American Editorial Board
Posted on 08/13/2006 1:27:57 PM EDT by Koblenz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1682908/posts
[Hillary is the next target? Hillary's the next target of the GOP, if it follows the lead of the DNC. Another reason for the Lamont candidacy was to have Hillary provide cover fire.]
Dick Morris: Hillary Clinton Big Loser in Lieberman Loss
NewsMax | 9 August 2006
Posted on 08/09/2006 1:18:30 AM EDT by Aussie Dasher
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680283/posts
LIEBERMAN'S LOSS: JOE WILL RISE AGAIN (Subtext: Hillary in trouble)
NY Post | 8/9/06 | Dick Morris
Posted on 08/09/2006 8:38:30 AM EDT by teddyballgame
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680382/posts
Joe's defeat should send a message (MEGA BARF ALERT!)
Snewsday | 8/7/2006 | Ellis Henican
Posted on 08/09/2006 9:29:00 AM EDT by Personal Responsibility
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680417/posts
In Clinton’s New York Run, Much Talk of Connecticut
NY Times Terrorist Tip Sheet | August 10, 2006 | RAYMOND HERNANDEZ
Posted on 08/10/2006 1:26:36 AM EDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680955/posts
Bye-bye, Joe: now Hillary’s the target
The Sunday Times (UK) | August 13, 2006 | Sarah Baxter
Posted on 08/13/2006 2:12:34 PM EDT by libstripper
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1682946/posts
Lieberman's Likely Win Will Be Embarrassing for Democrats
Fox News | Jon Gibson
Posted on 08/18/2006 1:19:49 PM EDT by psychopuppy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1685985/posts
Goodnight all.
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