She won the (CT-5) primary, but can she win over labor?

The CT Mirror ^

[matt04]

With a $2 million bankroll and heavy advertising, Elizabeth Esty won the high-profile Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District. Now, she has to win a quieter, if still crucial campaign for the support of organized labor.

The first test will come Wednesday when the Connecticut AFL-CIO's political committee meets to consider transferring its backing to Esty from Christopher G. Donovan, the union favorite she defeated in a three-way primary.

Esty, who voted against labor on a handful of key items during her single term in the General Assembly, concedes she has little hope of defeating Republican Andrew Roraback in the highly competitive district without a unified Democratic base.

"I've been in a lot of conversations with folks in labor," Esty said. "It's very focused, as I am, on the critical importance of a Democrat winning that seat. Labor is absolutely critical to making that happen."

Right now, the support is not there - starting with Donovan, whose refusal to immediately endorse Esty carries several complications, not the least of which is that he can continue as the nominee of labor's Working Families Party.

Donovan pointedly refused to disavow running on the Working Families line after his loss Tuesday night, but a labor leader and some of his closest friends in politics say Donovan could only be a spoiler, a role they see him rejecting.

"There is no path toward a Working Families victory with a third-party candidate. I just don't see that. That's something that is not viable," said John W. Olsen, the president of the state AFL-CIO.

[Paladin2]

"...can she win over labor?.... "

She's preggers?

[ExCTCitizen]

Esty, who voted against labor on a handful of key items during her single term in the General Assembly, concedes she has little hope of defeating Republican Andrew Roraback in the highly competitive district without a unified Democratic base.

Roraback is a Democrat anyway...(the guy is a RINO)

[DTogo]

Esty can have Murphy’s seat. Roraback is a Liberal Democrat in an elephant suit.