Welcome to Political Pulse, your weekly roundup on Connecticut Politics for UConn students.
Hey there, UConn students. November will be here before you know it. And you know what that means (besides unshaven classmates and a continuation of depressing games at Rentschler)? You’re going to need to know something about the elections. But wait! Let me guess. You don’t like politics? Or you think: what’s the use in voting anyway…it’s not like you’re going to make a difference. Or maybe you just don’t have the time.
If you nodded along to any one of these statements…1) you’ve come to the right place and 2) you’re not alone. Even in 2008, when voter turnout was higher than it had been in 40 years, there were still millions of eligible voters who did not cast a ballot. Why is that? Well, according to analysis by the Census Bureau, one of the top three reasons registered voters gave for not voting: they were just too busy. So keep reading because I’m going to keep this short and sweet. This is a newsletter designed for all of you who just don’t have the time.
News from the Nutmeg State and Beyond
Um, you spelled “Daniel” wrong
Nope. That’s no typo. Dannel P. Malloy, the incumbent Democratic governor of Connecticut, is one of the names you’ll see on the ballot in November. His challenger? Republican Tom Foley.
The pair will be participating in various debates and forums throughout the next two months. And trust me – you’ll want to see what’s in Storrs…
Wait, what? In Storrs? Does that mean…they’re coming here? You mean – here, here?!
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Clear your calendar because you’ve got a date with Connecticut’s most eligible gubernatorial candidates (if you can get tickets). Malloy and Foley will be coming to UConn’s Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Thursday, Oct. 2.
Malloy…Foley…all I’m seeing is that both their names end in “Y.” Are they different at all?
They like to think so. And so do their campaign strategists. As Hartford Courant reporter Daniela Altimari writes, while Malloy is hopping from networking breakfast to meet-and-greet to press conference in less than 24 hours, Foley prefers to set up private meetings with business and community leaders in Connecticut. Jury’s still out on whose strategy will prove to be more successful, although a recent Quinnipiac poll tells us Foley has the lead on Malloy by about 6 points.
The trash talk is real
Want to get in good with your significant other’s left-leaning parents? Take this talking point from Malloy. Spoiler alert, he really, really doesn’t like Foley’s views on mass transit. Memorize this one and you’ll have Mr. and Mrs. Democrat inviting you over for Thanksgiving in no time.
“What world is he in? Does he understand how many people use buses? Does he know what a bus is? … Does he use the railroad? I think he has this idea that all [mass] transit is for people other than his class and therefore it’s not important.”
On the other hand…have a Republican boss you’re looking to butter up? Foley’s spokesman, Mark McNulty, is firing shots. Feel free to borrow some ammunition.
“Apparently 1 percent growth, one of the worst job recovery rates in the country, and higher taxes are good enough for Dan Malloy. It’s not good enough for Tom Foley, we can and will do better with a new direction for Connecticut.”
Speaking of ammunition…and other states…
Across the country, races for other government positions can be just as entertaining. In Kentucky, for instance, the Senate race between Democrat challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes and Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell is getting more ridiculous by the second, thanks to a new television ad centered around guns.
So what exactly is skeet shooting and how does it relate to being a good senator? You’ll just have to stay tuned for the next edition of Political Pulse to find out.
Until we meet again…
…celebrate September as “voter registration month” and check out this alluring campaign from Equality Illinois. They have nailed down the art of double entendre in exactly one minute.
Sylvia Cunningham writes the weekly political roundup for UConn students. She can be reached at: sylvia.cunningham@uconn.edu
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