Thursday, October 06, 2005

A Preview of Things to Come

Rell Sets Positive Tone for Campaign

In a speech to the Danbury Rotary Club on Wednesday, Governor Jodi Rell laid out a framework for her upcoming campaign, and took a moment to attack her rivals.

"I've tried to set a new tone in Connecticut to make people proud to call Connecticut home again," Rell told the Danbury Rotary Club. "We have turned the corner to bring integrity to state government."

Rell went on to talk about how she and legislators passed a state budget without the need for a special session, pushed through the largest transportation package in more than 20 years and devoted $100 million over the next 10 years to stem cell research.

Further, in a counter-attack she'll likely use against Democratic critics in next year's campaign, Rell accused potential opponents of being too negative. "Some say everything is wrong in Connecticut and the sky is falling," Rell said. "Those who see only the worst of Connecticut are not destined to lead the state to its best." (Lucas)

Now, John DeStefano and Dan Malloy are hardly "those who see only the worst of Connecticut," (DeStefano, especially, has tried to run a peppy, upbeat campaign), but voters don't know that. Rell is defining them before they have a chance to define themselves. This is a classic incumbent tactic, and one that worked very well for George Bush last year.

It doesn't help that DeStefano's big media moment this summer centered around the release of a campaign DVD with a somewhat negative portrayal of Rell, and that in general the only times either challenger made the news was when he was attacking the governor (the recent flap over illegal immigrants and ID cards in New Haven is an exception, but that didn't exactly help DeStefano either).

Malloy and DeStefano shot back with accusations of their own:

"Telling the truth is not negative, it's realistic," said Malloy.
...
"John Rowland didn't want anyone to criticize his ethics. Jodi Rell doesn't want anyone to criticize her record. Neither hold up to scrutiny," DeStefano said. (Lucas)

Whether voters will be willing to scrutinize the popular Rell's record in the face of a relentlessly positive campaign is far from certain. In fact, this brings to mind another "reform" candidate who ran positive campaigns...

In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan dubbed his upbeat campaign "Morning in America." Rell... might well have called her speech "Morning in Connecticut." (Lucas)

Lucas's comparison is fascinating. I could spend a lot of time dissecting it, but all I'll say for now is that while the two have somewhat divergent philosophies, they may attract the same kind of following. We saw Reagan Democrats: will we see Rell Democrats? It's possible. She has over 60% approval with Democrats, according to the last SurveyUSA poll.

This analogy leaves poor Malloy or DeStefano to play Carter and/or Mondale. Not a pleasant thought. They can take solace in the fact that she won't have nearly as much of a monetary edge as Reagan did over his challengers, if she has one at all. They'll have plenty of opportunities to get their message out.

So here's the game plan as it stands for next year: Democrats are going to try to convince voters that Connecticut is in crisis, and that a leadership change is necessary. The governor will then attempt to annihilate them with sunshine. Looking forward to it.

Source
Lucas, Fred. "Rell Ready to Run." Danbury News-Times 6 October, 2005.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

No incumbant or replacement incumbant could set a negative tone for their own campaign, it would be campaigning against themselves. Jodi Rell need not look back to Regan for instruction, she is copying a page from John Rowland in questioning her opponents "negative" view of Connecticut.

http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=19677

Anonymous said...

I am not worried about DeStefano or Malloy being another Carter or Mondale. I worry about them being another Curry or Kenelley. Telling the truth is no defense against a person whose 2 main running points are "I am not John Rowland" and "I've had cancer". The Democrats need Amman and Williams step up and put the pressure on Rell. I wonder though,, if that is in Amman and Williams best interest to do, because a Democratic governor would diminish their power.

Aldon Hynes said...

I don't know. She sounds an aweful lot like Gerald Ford to me:

FORD: Tonight I can tell you straight away, this nation is sound, this nation is secure, this nation is on the march to full economic recovery and a better quality of life for all Americans.

ANNOUNCER: It wasn't that way two years ago but in one of our darkest hours America suddenly had a new kind of president.

FORD: I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots. So I ask you to confirm me as your president with your prayers.

ANNOUNCER: A new leader who had not sought the job but was prepared for it. A tough man when he had to be. But above all a decent man, who from his first hours has worked to restore the honor of the White House.


ref.

Yes, Jodi is a decent woman, who from her first hours has worked to restore the honor of the Governor's Office.

So, I'm hoping Mayor DeStefano will be the Jimmy Carter of the race, the Jimmy Carter of 1976.