Jodi Rell's re-election campaign has been pretty low-key this summer. Most of what she's done is have young campaign workers go to events and hand out swag and balloons. That's about to change. Her website has received a much-needed facelift, and, according to the Courant, she's about to release her first ad:
Her first commercial is a 60-second tribute characterizing her two-year tenure as a fresh start for a state stunned by Rowland's departure in the face of an impeachment inquiry and his eventual conviction on federal corruption charges.
With a deftly edited and elegantly scored ad, Rell exploits the advantages of incumbency and her unique place in Connecticut history, which has helped make the Republican one of the state's most popular governors as she seeks a first full term. (Pazniokas)
DeStefano, of course, has been airing ads since last October, many of them either aimed at Rell or positive ads about DeStefano and New Haven. However, since most of his money was spent winning the primary, it's uncertain when he will be able to put any more of his ads on the air.
DeStefano's spokesman, Derek Slap, said the commercial shows the race is tightening, a claim undermined by the Rell campaign's long-held plan to launch its ad campaign on Labor Day, traditionally the first day of the fall election season. In a Quinnipiac University poll released two weeks ago, Rell led DeStefano, 64 percent to 32 percent, among likely voters.
Slap declined to say when DeStefano, who has been busily raising money since winning the Aug. 8 primary, will be able to go on the air. He dismissed Rell's opening salvo as a "feel-good" effort that diverts attention from the state's inability under Rell to confront major issues. (Pazniokas)
And yet this sort of ad is going to help Rell, because people like her. This is a reminder of why they like her. The ad goes from taking over for Rowland to campaign finance reform to saving the sub base. Positive. Happy. Squishy. Also effective as hell. She doesn't have to mention DeStefano at all. Frankly, attacking him only raises his name recognition.
DeStefano, on the other hand, may find that the only way to get anyone to notice him is to go negative--which could backfire seriously. It's not a great position to be in. He's like Bob Dole in 1996, or perhaps more aptly, Walter Mondale in 1984. Is there a way to victory for him from here?
Source
Pazniokas, Mark. "Rell Starting On Upbeat Note." Hartford Courant 2 September, 2006.
23 comments:
Maybe she should have a commercial explaining why she's shown no leadership as Governor.
Or why energy rates are skyrocketing as she does little to nothing. Or why seniors have to sell the houses they lived in their whole lives when the state does little to help communities on education. Or why small businesses can't add new workers because of high health care costs. Or why she has no vision for where Connecticut should be in 4 years.
The race is tightening and Rell still has no answers.
DeStefano has nothing going for him. He has no money. If he attacks, everybody will see him negatively for attacking their beloved Rell. If he goes positive, he'll lose because he's just not very likable in general.
JODI, HOW DO WE CONTACT YOUR CAMPAIGN? HOW DO WE GET LAWN SIGNS? HOW DO WE LOCATE THE HEADQUARTERS? DO YOU EVEN HAVE ONE (rhetorical)?
How about a "Contact Us" portion--or do you not want to get input from the "great" state of Connecticut?
In early October 1988, I met with a Lloyd Bentsen aide and asked him the same question about how Dukakis-Bentsen could stop Bush 41's momentum.
His answer was politically incorrect, but totally applicable to this race.
He drawled, "Dukakis's only hope is that Bush is found in bed with a live dog or a dead woman not his wife. And that would only make the race competitive."
I think DeStefano even realizes that he need not call the moving company.
There is virtually no national interest in this race. Locally, ask your apolitical friends- people who vote, but don't pay attention closely, what they think. Odds are, they may not even know there's a race on.
But they'll have an opinion about Lieberman-Lamont. Governor, you should get Lamont's mailing list and mail a thank-you note to each and every Ned supporter for throwing a block to any challenge.
bobby mcgee - I couldn't have said it any better myself. I'm sure the Ds on this board will attack your comments, but they are right on target.
If DeStefano attacks Rell his negatives will go through the roof (and they are already high).
If he doesn't attack, Rell will never come below 50%.
He is caught between a rock and a hard place, plus his money is gone!
This one is over. Let's get back to Lieberman vs. Lamont . . . .
Anon. 232, all of your comments are pretty silly, especially the one about the race tightening. LOL
But this one is my favorite: "Or why energy rates are skyrocketing as she does little to nothing."
Hello???? Did you read yesterday's thread about the Speaker deciding NOT to hold a special session regarding energy prices.
So for the record, it is the Democrats in the legislature that have done nothing regarding energy prices.
Oh, wait, I'm sorry, the Democrats did KILL Rell's bill to cut energy prices.
Thanks for showing us how clueless you DEStefano people are.
yeah, we could have the feel bad leadership of crime ridden tax crushed New Haven, yep those are the "big ideas" CT is clamoring for...
Anonymous said...
"bobby mcgee - I couldn't have said it any better myself. I'm sure the Ds on this board will attack your comments, but they are right on target."
Haha I am a Dem. That probably speaks to how this campaign is going.
DeStefano has a huge problem. Rell doesn't have any results, but she also doesn't have anything really bad that he can sink his teeth into (like the war). It's hard to get people riled up about car taxes and sub par education.
TrueBlueCT said...
Connecticut deserves better than feel-good leadership.
We certainly deserve better than a two-bit hack of a mayor whose police force is **so** obviously corrupt.
What has Rell DONE while in office? Name something! Meanwhile our energy rates are out of sight -- deplorable and unaffordable rates. Highest in the nation? They have monopolized our wallets. How many people will be shivering this winter, all the while paying exorbitant rates to these monopolies?
unless i missed something, this add doesn't say anywhere she's a republican...hmmm?
Remember Tomasso? How come Governor Rell never called for an investigation to find out how many other state employees or legislators were directly involved in facilitating these lucrative contracts? Jodi somehow has not been concerned in learning how many others are still receiving a state pay check and were accessories in the greatest scandal to ever hit Connecticut?
Our current Governor has been just a little too quick to put this all behind us. Her inability, uncurious nature or knowledge of events can be the singles most important issue that could send poll numbers plummeting. The question that should be asked in this campaign is “ Who else benefited from helping Tomasso and why haven’t you done something about it”?
What has Rell DONE while in office? Name something! Meanwhile our energy rates are out of sight -- deplorable and unaffordable rates. Highest in the nation?
The EIA of the Dept. of Energy says that Connecticut does indeed have the highest rates, but all the NE states are quite high.
To get lower rates in CT, we should build several new power plants. Where do you think these power plants should get built? Do you think the locals might complain if there's going to be a power plant in their midst?
What type of power plants do you think we should build? Nuclear? Yeah, right. Coal? That'd go over really well with the locals. Natural Gas? Probably, but how do you propose to get natural gas? Can't be with Broadwater. I'm sure an LNG terminal onshore would be much more of a no-no. Windmills? Not sure where there's a lot of empty space that's windy so we dump a few thousand windmills there. No way you can put windmills in LI Sound: it'll destroy people's views and probably hurt the fish or something.
So seriously, how do you propose to increase the electric supply?
It's hard to get people riled up about car taxes and sub par education.
Rell tried to get rid of the car tax.
As for sub-par education, if you think Connecticut has sub-par education, which state do you think has a better education system? (I assume you mean the actual education services provided, not the method of funding).
way2moderate - did you flunk civics class???
Perhaps you need a refresher on how government in CT works.
It is the Democrats in the legislature that are responsible for everything good that has happened during the last 2 years while Rell has been Governor.
It is the Republican Governor who is to blame for evferything bad.
That is how our government works in CT ... just ask truebluect and the other Rell-haters!
LMAO
Jodi Rell is running for the first time as a candidate for governor. So you are incorrect when you mention she is running for reelection. She was promoted because of the line of succession.
NHPD probably has improved. Under uber-liberal Nick Pastore it was hard to tell what laws they were enforcing and which ones he appeared to be breaking
Many people have the lips sealed on the Tomasso issue. If one person rats, there would be a whole lotta people goin down!
TrueBlueCT said...
And ACR, mighty Republican of you to smear New Haven's finest. However our NHPD is not corrupt. Shame on you for crapping on our men in uniform.
It's not a smear if it's the truth.
way2moderate, is that really all you have, is that a joke, are you a DeStefano staffer masquerading as a Rell supporter, no honestly I'm laughing, those accomplishments are simply amazing,
"Forging a vital, new attitude of trust and respect with the state's labor unions."
Haha, do you know anybody in labor, they think Rell's a complete failure, honestly, funny stuff.
Look at TrueBlue, invoking the heroic 9/11 imagery to shame anyone who speaks anything negative of our "heroes."
I can already see the flames shooting from his mouth if Jodi or any Republican candidate evoked that same imagery for their benefit.
reading these posts reminds me of that "amiable dunce" who won 49 states in 1984
Dudes listen to me. Rell is probably going to step down. I am too professional to say why. It is no mistake that she picked Michael Fedele. He is smart and he knows how the capitol works. This is a story I am convinced has merit.
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