Monday, May 22, 2006

The Lamont Effect

By this point, there's enough out there on the web and in the news about the remarkable showing of Ned Lamont at Friday's convention that I don't have to retell the story. It's enough to say that it was a shock to the Lieberman campaign and the Democratic Party's leadership, and a huge boost for the committed, passionate supporters of Ned Lamont.

How much of a victory was it?

When was the last time a guy who just lost the endorsement by 33% of the vote walked out of the hall to be mobbed by an intense group of supporters, all chanting "Ned! Ned! Ned!" as if they'd just buried Joe Lieberman in a landslide? When was the last time a double-digit margin of victory left supporters feeling deflated and worried?

The Lieberman campaign sent out a triumphant email on Saturday proclaiming a huge win, but most people who watch politics know better. Lieberman may still win the primary and the election, but his standing among many Democrats has been cut off at the knees. It really wasn't supposed to happen this way. Lamont was expected to claw his way to 15%, and not get much more than that. Lieberman supporters were expecting their man to crush him.

It didn't happen.

Big labor showed up in force for Lieberman (and for DeStefano), heavy-hitters like Chris Dodd lionized him in speeches and the leadership seemed to be giving the incumbent senator their support. Normally, that would work.

But this year, organized labor didn't have much of an impact for either Lieberman or DeStefano. People talked through Chris Dodd's speech (I couldn't hear a lot of it, people were talking so loudly) and when Dodd exhorted his fellow Democrats to "Stand up for Joe Lieberman," urging them to get out of their seats, only about half did. At the end of the speech, Dodd received tepid, polite applause from those who were listening.

When the vote was taken, it seemed like Lamont's votes were coming from all over the place. A wide majority of towns had at least one Lamont voter in them: only 34, by my count, cast all of their votes for Lieberman.

The message seemed to be that a lot of the Democratic delegates had lost faith in their leaders. Instead of being told what to do by the leadership, and then doing it, they were acting on their own. This is not the way party politics is supposed to work!

One of the effects of the Lamont campaign may be that the Democratic Party becomes more, well, democratic. The old machine structure of the party has long been in decline--maybe this will be the final nail in its coffin. This election year is shaping up to be about change. Voters desperately want something to change in this country, and they don't trust their leaders to make it happen. Maybe we saw a little of that desire, and where it could lead us, Friday night.

9 comments:

ctblogger said...

What an amazing weekend. I didn't think anything could match Lamont's preformance Friday but the Malloy/DeStefano drama was intense to say the least.

I felt like I was in the middle of a mosh pit on the floor Saturday and Malloy jumping on the chair firing up his supporters was priceless.

The numerous challenges to the vote added to the suspense and I was exhausted by the time we learned who actually won the nomination.

Don't forget everything that was happening outside the convention with the anti-war protestors almost being arrested and large amount of union members protesting in the parking lot.

I really can't wait to get all my video posted.

Two words I'll never forget: Media pass!!!

Genghis Conn said...

The state central people really came through with the media pass, I have to say. It made a HUGE difference.

Genghis Conn said...

I heard that story! Bravo for Kevin Sullivan.

ctkeith said...

GC,

You totally misread Labors role in the convention.Labor will always have a big role in Democratic Politics and will be one of the Determining factors in the Aug. 8th primary and the General.

Go read the code in Chris McC's posts.He talks about Malloys win being a win for "the middle class (thats code for white suburbanites like him and DLC Dan).

The Democratic Party of FDR isn't represented by line A in the Primary it's represented By Line B.

Nancy Dinardo and Co.(that includes DLC Lieberman) got the endorsements to the exact people they were paid to.They had to cheat to make it happen for Malloy but that never bothered them and Lieberman left in much worse shape than anyone expected.

DiNardo ain't dead yet but she down a few pints and still bleeding pretty badly.

ctkeith said...

Mightymouse,
I was a delegate but had no dog in the fight for Gov( But I always Though JDS was a better Dem).I voted PRESENT and called both Gov Candidates COWARDS in a Diary over at my left nutmeg because they both agreed to take the war off the table for Liebermans Benefit.

The First vote had JDS up by 3.Malloy goons went to work and started threatening people.I watched as women ran out crying because they didn't want to change their votes but were being bullied and thats when I changed my vote to JDS.

Go watch the video of the Republicans in Fla. that stopped the counting of ballots in 2000 and thats exactly what Malloy people looked like as they bullied people.

I'm happy with the results of our convention.


Line A Represents Lieberman/Malloy/Dinardo and the Pro War.Pro Corperate,anti Union all white and totally incompetent same old people who've made the Dem Party the Minority party in this country.

Line B Represents Lamont/DeStefano and the Anti war,anti Walmart,Pro Union,Pro diversity future Majority Party of this country.

Line A no doubt means all three Republican House seats stay in the incumbents hands because the Iraq war,as an issue,is off the table and Line B puts the Iraq War and these Republican Seats in Play.

Lets get at it.

Genghis Conn said...

keith,

A lot of labor leaders backed Lieberman, but who is to say that their membership feels the same? They may back Lamont, or even Schlesinger. Indeed, Republicans have been poaching union votes for a long time--it's one of their strategies.

Organized labor will still be a big player in the Democratic Party, but their ability to deliver huge blocks of votes and ground troops to candidates is diminished. Many members are voting the way they want to, and supporting who they want, instead of doing what the union leaders say.

ctblogger said...

TrueBlueCT (1:44)

I heard about that also and I think CTBob has all of it on video.

Sullivan is the man.

David said...

Thanks Chris MC for the promo of my blog. Unfortunately, with the GAE investigation of Moodygate, trying to get my reelection campaign up and running and the state convention, I have not had the opportunity to freshen it. I would love to share my thoughts on the state convention - which is still a raw subject in West Hartford. For now, I will say that Malloy simply outorganized DeStefano at the convention. He didn't crow that he would win it going in. He lowered expectations and exceeding them - SOP. As far as strong arming/brow beating delegates - I am somewhat familiar with that subject - mostly on the receiving end and not the doing end
at this convention. In the end, so what? It is about winning - both Malloy and DeStefano engaged in it at the convention and before hand, but in the end Malloy was better at it.

David McCluskey

Mr X said...

I personally think DeStefano is all done in Litchfield County If he gets 10 votes he will be lucky.

The delegates were robbed by DeStefano and his "big lie and deceive" tactic.

I heard the rumors about Slifka for a few weeks But he is just a kid and basically a ceremonial Mayor since West Hartford AKA New Haven North has a town manager.

West Hartford stole this one from Litchfield County But we are not down for the count.

As a Former DeStefano Supporter I am happy to say I am going to support Dan Malloy/Mary Glassman.

Malloy did the right thing and picked someone from 5th CD While DeStefano decided to pick Slifka rather than Blondin Because West Hartford has a better voter turnout record in Gubernatorial elections What a smokescreen and a big lie.