Connecticut Senate 2012

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William Tong would have been better off running for State Senate, if a vacancy were to open up. He is very poorly known beyond his Gold Coast district of Stamford and New Canaan (New Canaan is EXTREMELY affluent, so a pro-Lieberman, moderate style plays well there). Beyond the fact that he is only one of maybe half a dozen or so Asian elected officials in the state, his potential for broad support across Connecticut is very limited.

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And Some Dude 2010 write in candidate Brian Hill is the first Republican entry. The good news is he is far from a teabagger and wantsntoleave Afghanistan. Also, he is black. I can't see him getting anywhere but he could become one of those Allen West military blacks that Republicans eat up. Republicans do have a history of nominating candidates with no political experience for major offices in CT.

This guy will soon be squeezed into a footnote in the history of the 2012 Senate race once Linda McMahon's campaign war-machine revs up. Though who wouldn't love to see what would happen if a town like Hartland was forced to choose between a white Democrat and a black Republican...

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Decades of Democratic dominance of the legislature, the end of the Rowland-Rell gubernatorial era and the recent failure of the GOP to win any congressional races has left the GOP benches quite empty. Rob Simmons would get crushed if he tried to run again (or if he inexplicably "suspends his campaign" halfway through). Most GOP State Senators (e.g. McKinney, Kissel, Roraback) are too parochial to quickly acquire a statewide following, and most State Reps. are too insignificant to stand up to Democratic heavy-hitters Murphy and Bysiewicz. So the GOP will end up turning to McMahon.

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I think it is fair to say that Connecticut is more of a one-party state today than it has ever been after the last world war.
Soon Lieberman will be gone as well.

And deservedly so.
Connecticut Republicans can't stay reactionary on social issues and nominate nobodies and expect to win. Someonevlike Chris Shays could make the race a toss up.

But the Republicans don't have anyone even remotely like Chris Shays left. Shays himself is damaged goods, and every indication says that the GOP is going to make a sharp turn to the right in the near future.

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That's a strong Democratic performance for Hartland.

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Is there anything notable about Hartland to cause its Republicanism and supposed racism? Just looks like a typical lily-white New England town to me.

I'm exaggerating a bit, but Hartland is the most Republican town in Connecticut - yet it is not especially affluent. Yes, it is 98-99% white. It is also very rural - the smallest town in Hartford County. My high school had a number of students from Hartland and the vast majority of them seemed to fulfill the "redneck" stereotype. Indeed, we had a large contingent of workboot-wearing, pickup-truck driving, Confederate-flag wearing types. We even had some problems with "White-power Wednesday" a while back.

Needless to say, Hartland has not voted for a Democrat for president - ever.  

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Is there any chance Rell might make a run for the seat?

Jodi Rell has had a lengthy and distinguished career in the Governor's Mansion and in the State House. She recently celebrated her sixty-fifth birthday and likely sees no advantage in risking all the marbles on a Senate seat against a powerhouse Democrat like Murphy.

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I wonder who a certain Connecticut poster will be supporting now.

Well, it ain't Susie.

Tong was doomed from the start - maybe he'll run in CT-04 if Himes is eventually defeated.