Colin McEnroe Show: A Post-Primary Wrap Up That Will Blow Your Mind
What shocked or surprised you about last night's primary?
So what happened last night? How did Dan Malloy win by 16 points when the polls said he was trailing by a few?
There are all kinds of pundit-y answers, but you could merge them all into a statment like this - "Sometimes a candidate and a moment come together."
Malloy was publicly financed at a moment when people were distrustful of millionaire candidates. He seemed like a scrappy underdog at a moment when an usually high number of citizens feel like underdogs. (Bridgeport political guru Lennie Grimaldi boiled Malloy's appeal down to "If you think you got screwed, vote for me.") He ran on a day of horrifyingly low turnout, which favors upsets and undercuts the advantage of a well-funded candidacy. And he shook off the wooden qualities that hurt him so much in 2006 and managed to convey a new sense of passion and competence.
That's my Dan Malloy theory right now, but I haven't had much sleep. It could change. What are your theories? E-mail colin@wnpr.org Tweet us @wnprcolin or leave your comments below!
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Comments
I don't understand comments
I don't understand comments like Kathy's: If you're displeased with how things are going, how on Earth does voluntarily isolating yourself from the one power of the ballot box help you? If you don't take a hand in changing things, you have nobody to blame but yourself when the things you hate stay the same.
And Mary, I don't follow your comment that there are "no 'grown ups' in this bunch": As a DTC member, I've met and talked to all but one of the Democrats on last night's statewide ballot, and every one of them struck me as serious, thoughtful, and committed (Mike Jarjura might've broken that streak, if his mailings are any indication, but I never met him). Even on the Republican side, where your adjective "wacky" is more broadly applicable, there were at least a few "grown ups" to choose from. It's not my fault if Republican voters didn't always pick 'em.
E-mail from Kathy
I was listening to you in my car and felt the need to comment, so:
I'm 64 and have voted (mostly Democrat) in every election since I was eligible. This time, I got so fed up with phone calls and mail ( I got rid of my tv a year ago) that I decided NOT to vote in this primary.
Then after receiving a 6 pm (dinner time) call from my UNION, asking me to vote for Malloy, I went to the Town Hall and unregistered as a Democrat.
Do "these people" think I am so shallow that I would let a phone conversation/recorded message help me make up my mind?
Really.....
E-mail from Carlina
A belated thought re Ned Lamont's loss last night.
I think anti-Obama-esque "Let's-all-collaborate-and-listen-discuss-
and-find-common-ground" -itis was a big factor.
Dan Malloy was not only more specific; he appeared to be more leader- like.
Lamont attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where every class is taught through the Harkness Method: seminar-style, with 12 students and a professor around an oval table.
The teachers may pose a question or start the initial class discussion, but they are relatively silent. Students learn the art of debate, respectful if sometimes heated disagreement, and how to evaluate possible facet of an issue.
This is a fabulous way to learn, analyze, think critically, etc. but I'm starting to think that it's a bad recipe for winning elections, and perhaps for political leadership roles.
Yes, maybe "Ned" is too elite/Waspy a name. But I think, for better or worse, the entire impatient electorate feels so at sea, they want not only sound bites and physically attractive, hip, charismatic candidates; they also want someone who is - or comes across as - supremely confident.
E-mail from Mary
After the run up to this primary - and the wacky candidates - It really makes me miss Senator Dodd. Blumenthal does nothing for me, and we have the specter of Linda McMahon representing us for 6 years. There are no "grown ups" in this bunch. We will be sorry we chased one the most powerful and respected Senators out of office. We are going to need respect, power and influence representing us. C'mon McMahon over Rob Simmons - the republicans in this state are just being reactionary.
E-mail from Chris
Your caller had a point about the effect of the wrong name for a candidate. If you're really interested in this topic - and it IS fascinating - look up this book by Bruce Lansky, and get him on your show. My husband and I used it when choosing a name for our son Daniel - forgetting that people will on their own shorten it to Dan or Danny, which we do NOT like at all!
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