Connecticut Democrats say they’re excited to have President Barack Obama campaign for Gov. Dannel Malloy at a rally in Bridgeport on Wednesday. State Republicans are downplaying the significance of the rally.
In 2010, President Obama made one of his last campaign appearances in Bridgeport. The rally at the Webster Bank arena attracted about 9,000 people, and helped boost turnout in Bridgeport so much so that local election officials ran out of ballots. It resulted in Democrat Malloy defeating Republican businessman Tom Foley by 6,400 votes after a recount in Bridgeport.
“We are thrilled to have him. He is going to fire up Democrats from across the state and hopefully give us a great jolt through November,” said Connecticut Democratic Party spokesman Devon Puglia, about the president’s campaign visit on Wednesday to Bridgeport. The hope is that Obama’s visit will again help Malloy in his rematch with Foley.
But state Republican Party Chair Jerry Labriola disagrees. “Dan Malloy is going to be judged by his record irrespective of the fascination people will have with national surrogates. I think it has very little value,” Labriola said.
However, the Republicans have their own national surrogate Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal coming to Connecticut to raise money and campaign for Foley on Friday.
