WHICH WAY WILL THE “CONSTITUTION STATE” GO ON TUESDAY?
by Sharon Rondeau
(Nov. 3, 2014) — On Sunday, unaffiliated Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Joe Visconti suspended his campaign and endorsed the Republican candidate, Tom Foley.
Visconti had hoped to initiate judicial reform in light of reports that Connecticut courts are “rife with conflicts of interest, waste and indifference.”
Visconti said he abandoned his candidacy to “make a difference” in Foley’s chance of winning on Tuesday.
Foley was narrowly defeated four years ago by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, who is his opponent again in Tuesday’s elections. In 2010, Malloy won the race by approximately 6,400 votes, according to Foley’s campaign. The Hartford Courant reported that Foley lost in 2010 by “fewer than 7,000 votes.”
In an interview with Fox News’s Gretchen Carlson on Monday, Foley told Carlson that residents of the “constitution state” are “very, very unhappy” with the economic outlook and the record-breaking tax increases Malloy signed into law in 2011.
Foley described Visconti as “a good guy” in his interview with Carlson.
On Monday, recent polls showed a “dead heat” between Foley and Malloy. The Wall Street Journal reported Malloy ahead by three points, although within the margin of error.
Foley and Malloy debated the issues on a local radio program Monday morning, which included taxes, spending, gun laws, employment and the economy.
Connecticut has more unaffiliated registered voters than Republicans or Democrats, as reported by Secretary of State Denise Merrill in a Monday press release: 11.3.14 More than 90000 New Voters Register in CT Leading up to Election Day
As The Post & Email reported on Friday, individuals registering to vote in Connecticut do not have to prove that they are U.S. citizens. The cities of New Haven and Hartford are “sanctuary cities” which will not report illegal aliens to federal authorities. The city of New Haven has been issuing identification cards to illegals since 2007.
In 2010, Malloy won the majority of votes in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, the latter of which was said by a Democrat politico to be plagued by voter fraud.
On Sunday, Obama campaigned for Malloy in Bridgeport, who has enacted Obama’s policies of Common Core Educational Standards, a state health insurance exchange considered very successful, and stricter gun laws.
Foley served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2006 to 2009 and within the Departments of State and Defense. He also launched a private business in 1985.
The Courant endorsed Malloy in the current race, which has reportedly taken in $15 million for the two major candidates from outside of the state.
Because of its First Amendment responsibility to be a watchdog on government, The Post & Email does not endorse candidates for political office.
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Update, 9:09 p.m. EST: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced at a press conference on Monday morning that Visconti’s name will remain on all Connecticut ballots.