Blumenthal Connects With New Haven Union Workers

 As a labor issue injected momentum into his campaign for U.S. Senate, Dick Blumenthal returned to the home of New Haven’s most politically active unions to rally his base—and cash in on 20 years worth of favors.

Democrat Blumenthal sought the vote-pulling help during a “Call To Action” Wednesday evening inside First & Summerfield Church across from the Green. Some 150 members and supporters of Yale’s blue- and pink-collar unions, which are housed in the church, promised to stand by his side as he takes on Republican candidate Linda McMahon for Connecticut’s open U.S. Senate seat.

The rally took place on a day when several polls showed Blumenthal pulling 10 or more points ahead of McMahon in a race that just two weeks ago was deemed too close to call. The spike followed a successful Monday night debate appearance and continual Democratic attacks on McMahon for fumbling questions about the minimum wage at a recent press conference.

With as few as 2 percent of voters undecided, and fewer than four weeks to go before the election, Blumenthal needs to inspire his base—of which labor is a key component—to get to work.

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