Sunday, November 26, 2006

Gallo May Quit as GOP Chair

Interesting AP article out on the wire from Susan Haigh. Some quotes worth discussing:
"Does the GOP in Connecticut have a problem? You bet it does," Cafero said. "I think part of that problem is, we have failed to define ourselves as Connecticut Republicans and frankly have allowed the national Republican party to define us."
[...]
The state party could soon be looking for a new leader. Chairman George Gallo said he is considering leaving the position in January. Cafero recently tapped Gallo as his caucus' new chief of staff.
[...]
Despite the losses, Gallo said he is optimistic about the Republican Party in Connecticut, pointing to the fact that there are more GOP officials running local cities and towns than Democrats. (AP)

So, Gallo may go in January. Any ideas on who might replace him, if he does decide to leave?

Cafero is blaming the ills of the state party on the national one, as are many others. There's a lot of truth to that, of course, but the fact is that in 2002, the party still didn't do well in the legislature even with a popular Republican, John Rowland, at the top of the ticket and three strong Republicans winning congressional seats. So maybe it isn't the national party, at least not entirely.

Gallo's point about municipalities is interesting. Republicans can take solace that they do, in fact, do well in the towns. But that doesn't always mean success at a higher level. Party seems to mean more to voters the farther up the ladder one goes--probably because a town council member can know a significant percentage of his or her constituents personally, while a state representative or state senator often can't.

Source
Haigh, Susan. "GOP seeks rebound from election losses, a legislative defection." Associated Press 26 November, 2006.

71 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Republicans in the General Assembly need to fight back tooth and nail. They should challenge the Democrats at every opportunity. Obviously having a Republican governor who constantly undercuts them (budgetary issues, campaign finance reform, and minimum wage hike come to mind) doesn’t help, but trying to cozy up to Rell obviously has not worked. There is a lot more she and her campaign team could have done in the run up to Election Day. Instead they sat on their hands, seemingly content to win in a landslide while Republicans across the state went down.

CTGOP needs to present a coherent, detailed agenda. Even if it means breaking with the administration the party should make it clear to the electorate exactly where it wants to take Connecticut. Trying the moderate, bipartisan approach will only blur the lines between the two parties and hinder any meaningful change in the composure of the General Assembly.

I think George Gallo was a very smart and capable Chairman. At this point having a high profile individual who can raise money and fire up the base would be the best choice. My ideal choice would be Rob Simmons, but I don’t think he will take it.

Kevin Rennie’s idea for a New England Republican summit is brilliant. Unfortunately it will never happen.

Anonymous said...

The first place to start might be to defend free speech like Rennie suggested

Genghis Conn said...

Republicans hung with Rell for the past two years because they thought she could help more Republicans get elected. Almost every flyer sent to me by Republican candidates and just about every GOP campaign website had a picture of the candidate with Rell.

It didn't help. Voters, for whatever reason, don't identify Rell with the Republican Party, and vice versa.

It makes me wonder if there's going to be a bitter Republican gubernatorial primary in 2010 between, say, Mike Fedele and someone more conservative like Rob Simmons.

Anonymous said...

It's the blame game. Gallo takes the hit. But can't really blame him for the Johnson and Simmons outcome. Maybe he/the CT GOP should have done more background on Alan Gold. But back in May the GOP was happy to any warm body to go against Smokin' Joe. The campaigns for AG/SoS/Treas/Comptroller were abysmal. Still, it is important to separate the issues. No coordination between the various campaigns. Lackluster effort by Rell. Not enough support for the local races. Not enough coordination with Town Committees. A strong and consistent effort by Dems. Lamont's $15 million helped the Dems in state. On balance, if Rell agrees to help others, the CT GOP makes progress. If she doesn't, then it doesn't matter who is party chairman.

Genghis Conn said...

Hm. Imagine what might have happened had Rell made a commercial promoting not just her campaign, but Connecticut Republicans in general. Imagine if she had campaigned aggressively across the state with GOP candidates. Or imagine if the word "Republican" had appeared within a mile of her campaign.

In such a Democratic year, it might not have changed much. But then again, it might have. We'll never know.

Anonymous said...

The CT-GOP as a team has suffered for years. Despite the immense popularity of the GOP Gov. going back over a decade, the party has been unable to make inroads. A picture of Rell on a campaign flyer is hardly going to make a difference. Rell must get out and support local candidates.

Anonymous said...

words matter more than pictures. Rell never explained why a vote for another Republican would help her and the rest of the party never explained why their election would help Rell. But maybe a lonely landslide is what some Rellists wanted?

Genghis Conn said...

I wonder if this is what Rell herself wanted, or if she got too hijacked by her campaign staff to campaign properly for Republicans. When I interviewed Chris Oliveira, he told me about a meeting Rell had with GOP town chairs, where she encouraged people to run:

According to Oliveira, his run for office began last year, when he and other Republican town chairs met with the governor. Oliveira recalls that the governor encouraged the town chairs to “…go back to your district, get people to run or run yourselves.”

He cited that as a major reason for his run, actually. So it seems that Rell did have some interest in building the party, but for whatever reason she didn't follow through as well as she could have during the election season.

Anonymous said...

It is easy for a successful candidate to offer advice. But what about support? Not withstanding the phenomenal success of Chris Murphy, what is the point of going up against an incumbent without some help? Both the town Committees and the CT-GOP are too inwardly focused.

Anonymous said...

"the phenomenal success of Chris Murphy......without some help?"

How about close to a mill of negative ads paid for by Moveon.org, the Soros funded lefty group?......think that's "some help"?

No GOP candidate will ever get that kind of wind in their sails

Anonymous said...

Exactly. No GOP candidate will get support, so why go out and fall on your sword?

Anonymous said...

The "Save Rumsfeld Equation – CT Version"

In theory:
Save Rummy = Rell + [(Shay + Simmons + Johnson) x $millions] + (CT republicans align with Lieberman)
= 1R Gov. + 3R Reps. + 1D/I/R Sen.
= Lieberman nominee for Supreme Court
= CT R Gov. appoint 1R Sen. Of her choice
= Utopia

In real time:
Save Rummy = Rell + [(Shay + Simmons + Johnson) x $millions] + (CT republicans align with Lieberman)
= 1R Lame Duck Gov. + 1 Prima-Donna Sen. + 1R Rep.
= Developing....

Anonymous said...

Rell did next to nothing to help the legislative candidates... she did a token bus tour the last weekend of the campaign, but other than that, absolutely nothing.

Jodi Rell is the most apolitical governor this state will ever have. She skips Doc Gunther's retirement party because she has a cold... she can't even show up to Rob Simmons' concession press conference.... she stiffs not only President Bush (admittedly politically understandable) but even the First Lady... she may as well join Diana Urban.

Gabe said...

No GOP candidate will ever get that kind of wind in their sails

Does the NRCC's over 5 million in negative ads in CT's three competitive seats not count?

Also, the number of towns whose executives are Republicans is an interesting statistic, but, once you factor population of the towns into the equation, doesn't say much about the ability to win congressional (or even legislative) seats.

Matt said...

For what it's worth, Rell came to Fairfield, stumped at the train station for Shays and the state leg. Republicans, and even cut a TV commercial with her and Tymniak, DeSanctis, and (I think) Stone. Not like it saved any of them.

I'd love to see Alan Schlesinger for GOP chair -- though I doubt he'd get in, because he'd remind most of the RTCs that they they've failed in standing up for their beliefs.

Genghis Conn said...

Yet there are some large towns and cities run by Republicans. New Britain, Torrington, Danbury, Middletown and Norwalk come to mind. Republicans can win some urban areas at the local level.

Not that we should expect a Republican mayor of New Haven any time soon, mind you.

Anonymous said...

I heard Cathy Cook and Rob Russo mentioned as possible state GOP chairs.

Anonymous said...

I don't want to kick somebody when they're down even if the deserve it but this election proved that Jodi Rell is no prime time player. How many times did we hear about Rell's coat-tails on this blog?

The Republican party in Connecticut has been rendered worthless and now that the Democrats have a super majority I expect some positive movement in our state and a end to the corruption and special interest.

Anonymous said...

So we all know 2006 is a banner year for Democrats-- but I think we are all over-reaching to say the "GOP is dead".

GOP has pockets of strength, and it is obvious what they need to do. Utilize the talent they have in the State Senate and House to articulate an agenda (ignore the Governor) and differentiate themselves from us.

Fortunately, they have failed to do so at every turn. But we are foolish to think they will not in the future. Our best defense is a strong offense-- to continue to press our agenda and let the Republicans flounder.

But watch out if DeLuca and Cafero get their act together-- Connecticut is a moderate state at the end of the day, and the Rs could come back.

Anonymous said...

Gabe:

"Does the NRCC's over 5 million in negative ads in CT's three competitive seats not count?"

Yes, it balanced out dollar for dollar the DCCC negative ads in the state

I don't know who I'm more pissed at tonight, Karl Rove or Eli Manning? neither one could hold a lead.

Bottom line is the GOP will have to find better candidates, raise more coin, and get better messages. Wonder why there are so many folks clamoring for Gallo's job....not

Anonymous said...

What is the point of having a Republican chairman, however effective, who is instantly dischargeable at the whim of an apolitical governor? The Republican Party can only be reformed from outside; the inside already has been co-opted. Start a conservative party. It can't happen soon enough.

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:16, no chance.

Anonymous said...

Gallo is another nasty little man who I would not follow out the door. A few months ago he was teaching political science, now he has proven he learned little. Rell is typical of many of the old fart republican politicians in Ct - they always showed up for the montly committee meeting, tossed money in the pot at appropriate intervals, always voted safe, sat in the middle and nodded their heads a lot. Rell and her ilk did a lot of sitting , keeping their mouths shut and shunting anyone who threatened them or their budddies out of the party. the reward was eventually to get tapped just for that - can anyone tell me anything Rell ever did of substance ? Anything???

Anonymous said...

Who would accept Republican chairman? Talk about a powerless position in a poweless party. If Shepardson,Hamzy & Gallo failed under Rell's rule, who's going to succeed?

The CT Republican party is dead without John Rowland. WOW, can you believe that!

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

George Gallo brought the party of debt for the 1st time in ages.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

>>Jodi Rell is the most apolitical governor this state will ever have. She skips Doc Gunther's retirement party because she has a cold...

Any excuse will do - good for her; the guy was bombastic.

Anonymous said...

Wow - someone (Anon 8:41) is angry and ignorant... Gallo has much more under his belt than simply teaching political science.

Anonymous said...

George Gallo gave the Democrats a super majority for the 1st time in ages in both the House & Senate. Good job!

Anonymous said...

Hold on, wait just one minute. Larry Cafero is correct that the GOP will come back, and that it must learn a few lessons. But, he is totally wrong about what the problem was in the state legislative races this year. All four of the republican incumbents who lost sealed their fate by voting against Rell on a bill dealing with gun violence. Police had asked the governor and the legislature to pass a law which would have made it a crime for gun owners to not report the theft of a firearm. It passed overwhelmingly in the Senate, with most republicans voting with Rell. But, in the House, Cafero decided to side with the gun lobby and have his troops vote against the bill. The bill was defeated with all but six republicans voting against it. In the Fairfield county upsets, Stone, Tymniak and Sherer lost their seats and the main issue was the gun vote. Cafero needs to realize that Connecticut's republican tradition is progressive on social issues, conservative on fiscal issues. That is what Rell has done and she won by the biggest margin in memory, and she was the only republican to impress anyone this year. Shays is a close second. I think that Cafero, who is very conservative on social issues, will lead the legislative republicans over the edge. He got them to act like Bush republicans last session, and they paid the price on election day. They should follow the governor's lead, and they will be back. Cafero and DeLuca are part of the Bush style politics that have no place in CT.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

Anonymous (9:19)said...
George Gallo gave the Democrats a super majority for the 1st time in ages in both the House & Senate.



Running over 100 campaigns is not the job of any state central.

The CT GOP was able to toss a few bucks to some candidates for the 1st time in my memory however, thanks to George Gallo who 1st paid off a debt of around a zillion dollars.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:19: Senate GOP was irrelevant before Gallo showed up. Blame that debacle on Krivda - Senate GOP has made no gains during his tenure.

Gabe said...

Here is what I found when looking into the partisan breakdown of the top offices and town councils of each CT town by population:

Top Office Count % Population %
Republican Control 76 48.72% 1,269,055 41.63%
Democratic Control 80 51.28% 1,779,303 58.37%
156 3,048,358

Town Council Count % Population %
Republican Control 80 48.48% 1,208,930 36.19%
Democratic Control 85 51.52% 2,131,458 63.81%
165 3,340,388

I apologize if the formatting doesn't quite work.


I have a file that I would be happy to email to anyone who is interested. Please feel free to doublecheck me, I found one mislabeling of party on the SoS website myself.

Also, where does the "Republicans win the majority of town top officers/councils" line come from? I expected that to be the case, but when I plugged in the data, it doesn't appear to be the case.

Details of what I did: Petitioning candidates and town managers didn't count for either party, mayors/first selectman elected by the town council did, split councils and other party control didn't count for either party (which is why the numbers do not add up to 169).

Let me know what you think!

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:13

Yup, the gun bill did it. Look, the Republican Party IS Rell, nice moderate and, having lost the sting of a veto, entirely powerless. It's been that way FOREVER. Republicans have to decide whether they want a party or a governor. Rell already has made that decision: She wants to play ball with the Democrats. This way leads downward. Find anoher way.

Tim White said...

Gabe...

"Also, where does the "Republicans win the majority of town top officers/councils" line come from?"

This may be an answer to your question...

In Nov 05, 164 municipalities (or thereabouts) held elections. Of those 164, I think 81 went R, 80 went D and 3 went Independent.

And if memory serves me... after that election, there was much talk of Rs winning "the majority of towns." Properly put, they won a "plurality" of towns (if those numbers are correct... I'm really not sure.)

I really don't know if Rs or Ds hold a majority of the towns. But if your numbers are correct, I'd bet that's where the notion came from that Rs hold a majority of the towns.

(three other points to consider: 1) who holds the off cycle (non-November election) towns? 2) I think Jarjura switched I to D, post-election. 3) Have any towns held special elections in the past twelve months, perhaps switching from R to D?)

Anonymous said...

You people are totally myopic.

Republicans have held the Governor's mansion for 16 years once Rell is done. We held a majority of the congressional seats in CT for most of that time. CT Republicans have done pretty well-- 2006 is an exception, not the rule.

Note that under Rowland, it was the Republican agenda that was passed. It has only been in the past two years that a weakened Rell has adopted the Democratic agenda, rather than the other way around. Hopefully she will stop this.

And hopefully Democrats will think they have some kind of mandate and push through legislation on gay marraige, union protection, and higher taxes. Voter backlash will come in 2008 when McCain or Guliani heads the Republican ticket.

Genghis Conn said...

Election results from May 2005 are here.

Some towns (Andover, for instance) operate on a four-year cycle, don't forget.

Anonymous said...

Didn't the NYT editorial page demand the eradication of all Republicans from the Northeast?

Matt said...

From the NYT article:

Most newcomers are independent, “trying to figure out which party is more welcoming, and that’s clearly the Democratic Party right now,” Mr. Peterson said. “If the national party doesn’t make a home for independents, the Republicans are going to start losing. I don’t think they realize it yet, but I think they’re going to have to throw out their whole playbook.”

Amazing how rare it is to read that phrase in print, despite the varied wedge-issue plays of the national GOP. Republicans rarely let their message slip like that.

Matt said...

anon 1246, they endorsed Rell - and Russo as well, if I recall.

Anonymous said...

Annon 12:04 Read your post and you will see why Democrats have a Super Majority. Republicans always attack Marriage equality (Gay Marriage), Working families (Unions) and making the rich pay their fair share (higher taxes)

Yes, maybe Democrats will work on these issues but Republicans need to take a good look at what state they live in. This is Connecticut not Texas and unless Republicans start becoming a little more enlightened to their surroundings, your party faces extinction in our little liberal state.

Anonymous said...

New England republicans, with the exception of CT's own Chris Shays and Jodie Rell, are a dying breed near extinction. Why did these two dinosaurs survive? Shame on us.

Anonymous said...

What does the Republican party have to offer other than "we hate gays"? That seems to be the basis of their national platform. In CT, it is probably just a matter of time before Republicans start getting desperate and courting (or being taken over by) religious extremists. Jodi Rell seems to lack any creative solutions to CT's real problems of job losses, declining urban areas and transportation. How are massive public subsidies to financially unsound projects - convention centers and college football stadiums as two examples - part of smaller government? Of course it's gay marriage that the Republicans, religious nuts, and closet cases get hysterical about. I guess when you're stuck sitting in traffic, or lumbering, slowly along on Metro-North, that you have a lot of time to think about gay sex...

Anonymous said...

Good point 8:26. Not only do Republicans pride themselves in not giving equal opportunity to gays, they continually bash unions. What they don't realize is how many people are gay or have a family member who is gay. Regardless of what they may say or do publicly, guess how they are voting? For every person from the religious right that thinks this is a big issue there are probably 2 or more people who understand and are compassionate towards gays. oh I forgot, they are the big tent party.

Unions represent the working class people. Again, guess how many votes they are losing bashing them? All this has made them and their Governor insignificant.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:26 - Looks like you're the one who can't stop thinking about gay sex.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

If the Republican party as a whole was out to bash Gays, then how would one explain our candidate for congress in the 3rd district in both 2002 and 2004?

The fact is, the vast majority of Republicans simply don't really care or think about the sexual orientation of others much.
(I'm surprised anyone does!)


Unions represent those on their paid staff and no one else. Certainly NOT their members, for if they did the UAW would have protested when Gov. Rell purchased non-union made automobiles for the state fleet. The UAW didn't even issue a press release.

Genghis Conn said...

ACR,

I think the majority of Republicans around here don't care about sexual orientation. In other parts of the country, that isn't necessarily true.

Anonymous said...

Tom:

Unless Jodi is John McKinney, she wasn't in Fairfield TV spot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgVan3z2FXs

Anonymous said...

Anonymous (10:02) is right: you have to blame a lot of this blame on Senate Republicans and House Republicans. It's hard to think of any other job in American politics where you can lose time after time after time, and still keep the same leadership, both elected and at a staff level. I don't mean to say it's all their fault, it would help a lot of the Governor and State Central were able to coordinate message and platform with the caucuses, but someone has to take responsibility for years of deterioration.

Anonymous said...

Folks, I wouldn't go too hog-wild about the country being fed-up with Republican stands on social issues....the majority of "rookie" dems elected to Congress this year ran as conservatives--in some instances even ran to the right of their Republican challenger. This country is still very much 'just right of center' and the Dems would be wise to realize that in how they setup their agenda. Actually, I'm happy to let them slam liberal policy after liberal policy through for the next two years--grease the rails for another transition in 2008.

In CT, it is another kettle of fish entirely. The state does seem to be listing more to port as each election comes. However, the burgeoning liberal faction in the House is going to make things interesting for Amann this session, so he may be forced to grant some relevancy to the Republican super-minority as he cobbles together coalitions on his bills.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:45am:

Maybe you didn't see me on YouTube, so I'll tell you---

Any lib or group of libs tries to give me any trouble this year? I WILL CRUSH THEM.

Anonymous said...

Are Cafero and Gallo going to clean house over there or what? At such an insignificant number, why should they be concerned about ruffling a few feathers? They can only go up.

Or are they going to keep the same "battle-tested" team over there? It takes talent to lose like Norton/Burner/Krivda do year after year.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the Senate Democrat staff is back on the blog after losing 2 of the 3 competitive open seats and not beating Kissel and Herlihy like they planned in the best year for democrats since I can remember.. good job boys... keep up the fine work.

Matt said...

That vote alone probably delivered Christiano to the state house, Fawcett might have won without it.

On a side note, I want a healthy Republican party, or some healthy party other than just the Democrats, because there's a certain point at which various reactionary lobbying interests simply make persuading Dems the entirety of their operations.

A functional one-party system would first undermine the Democrats' ability to define themselves as a caucus, we'd start losing consistency of vision and direction, and a party label would be less meaningful as a basis for support. So I do actually hope the GOP gets its act together, and that there's more that will divide the two than simply a disagreement over GLBT civil rights and gun ownership.

Anonymous said...

The question is whether Cafero and DeLuca will continue their own personal right wing on social issues agenda or allow the house and senate republicans to be more mainstream on guns and gays. If they focus on economic issues, they will win back their own registered republicans. I know for a fact that is was moderate republicans, mainly women, who turned the tide in four house republican incumbent defeats and, of course, in the two US Congress defeats. Prediction: Cafero will turn out to be the biggest obstacle to Republican rebirth. Other moderate Rs will leave the house R caucus. His strategy of Gingrich-esque slash and burn will not work in CT

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:27--

Looks like Krivda got his guys and gals to get back on the blog to protect his fragile ego. To review:

1) Caligiuri was winning that seat with or without the R caucus's participation...and he knows it. Let's see you hold it when Sam runs for Congress in 2 years, George.

2) Debicella had more money than any other Senate candidate...even before the Senate R's came calling. Besides, don't tell me that you guys weren't tacitly backing Harkins for the endorsement pre-convention. Debicella is a wunderkind who has been amzingly successful for such a young man and he's done it for years without the Senate R's help...something tells me that track record would not have changed here.

3) You lost Cathy Cook's seat with a superior candidate.

4) Kissel has spent the past two years making sure that 2004 didn't happen again. Good for him--he saw us coming.

5) My guess is Tom Herlihy didn't have a clue that he was in a real dogfight. And I don't think you genius's at the caucus had a clue either. I think you know how lucky you are that it's still 12-24.

And, if I were you, I wouldn't be going around beating my chest about it.

Anonymous said...

Boys.. Boys.. Boys..

1. You ran around the building telling everybody that Sam was done from day one and Zoni was a Senator.. now you change your tune.

2. You guys got caught with your pants down at the Jones press conference with your boss there.. i'm sure that wasn't a fun ride back to Hartford.

3. Please refer to 1 and insert the name Bill Kiner instead of Zoni and Kiner outraised Kissel 2 to 1 and Simmons lost Enfield.

4. My "guess" is Tom Herlihy was more effected by Nancy's implosion in Avon, Simsbury and Canton then your masterful campaign advise.

You're right about Cook's seat.. we should of been plus 1.

And, if I were you, (well.. the moderator won't post my comment with this part).

Anonymous said...

Boys.. Boys.. Boys..

1. You ran around the building telling everybody that Sam was done from day one and Zoni was a Senator.. now you change your tune.

2. You guys got caught with your pants down at the Jones press conference with your boss there.. i'm sure that wasn't a fun ride back to Hartford.

3. Please refer to 1 and insert the name Bill Kiner instead of Zoni and Kiner outraised Kissel 2 to 1 and Simmons lost Enfield.

4. My "guess" is Tom Herlihy was more effected by Nancy's implosion in Avon, Simsbury and Canton then your masterful campaign advise.

You're right about Cook's seat.. we should of been plus 1.

And, if I were you, (well.. the moderator won't post my comment with this part).

Anonymous said...

I see the Senate Democrats using their computers for state business.... Hmmmm....

Holding on to 12 seats in the Senate this year, when Republicans were falling like dead fleas off a dog who just got dipped, IS a victory.
But you are right on one point - Winkler should have beaten Maynard.

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAHAAHAHAH as an outside observer I have to laugh at what I'm seeing. The Senate is dominated 24-12 by the Dem's, right? If the R's wonder why it is this way, they can look at their last few comments, not admitting your faults, pointing the finger at someone else and just plain ignorance and arrogance, were the downfall for the R's. The people spoke! Take it for what it's worth and change!

Anonymous said...

Your post anon 4:07 doesn't make any sense..

Anonymous said...

I see where the Republicans set their sights, they consider a tie in one set to be a victory for the whole match. Teach that lesson to your kids, they'll be sure to be mowing my lawn for the rest or their lives.

Anonymous said...

No republican will ever be mowing your lawn.

Anonymous said...

Don't be to sure annon 5:57. If it goes out to a vote, you may have to crank up that mower even if your Governor Veto's it.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

>>No republican will ever be mowing your lawn.

Republicans are aware that all honest labor is honorable.

In fact my own Republican step-son, now 30; had quite a lawn business going for several years. Truck, trailor, and multiple mowers including one of those big commercial ones. He purchased the stuff with his own money that he had earned delivering newspapers.

Anonymous said...

Let us breakdown this election from a realistic point of view...

Hitting Statistical rock-bottoms:

12 seats is as low as the gop can go in the state senate (exchange caliguiri for winkler with different candidate scenarios)

Statisticaly the house could stand to lose a few more GOP seats, however, D's managed some VERY close wins in traditionaly GOP districts...a result of climate, the GOP clearly has a more proficient GOTV effort. The current number will not get any better for them.

The state GOP reinvented itself under Gallo's leadership. I'm a new Republican in Danbury...I recieved (at least) 4 live phonecalls and had literature at my door on (atleast) 5 occasions.

With Gallo's leadership in the House and Mckinney stepping up in the state senate,excpect signifigant GOP gains in both houses in 2008.

Anonymous said...

The state GOP reinvented itself under Gallo's leadership., and lost ground.

Anonymous said...

Only Republcans can lose more seats than the election before and then make the claim of "leadership". I guess we can see why Democrats own the state.

Anonymous said...

compared to the NH wipeout, or the NY wipeout, Gallo's stewardship looks pretty good.

Actually, where are all those folks insisting the "real" polls showed DeStefano down only 10?

Now THAT's an achievement--spend $4M to lose by 28 points in the best Democrat year in 30 years!

Anonymous said...

New Danbury Republican (1:08). You claim you could see the progress that Gallo has made, yet didn't he blow it by losing the seat in the 2nd District (Bethel, Redding and Danbury). Stop drinking the Kool-Aid!!

Anonymous said...

Gallo made progress, but maybe not the results everyone wanted. We are all into instant gratification. Sometimes, the worthwhile takes awhile. NH and NY were worse, as was the '58 debacle. Still, time for a new team to push forward.

Anonymous said...

I'm a little unclear as to the law, so maybe someone could help me:

when can we (republicans) run rowland for something again?