There seems to be an undercurrent of surprise that Howard Wolfson is now advising Ned Lamont in his Connecticut gubernatorial campaign, but it's worth remembering that this isn't the first time these two have teamed up.
Come back with me to the crazy days of August 2006, when establishment Democrats, having tried (and failed) to defeat Lamont in his race against Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary, were now rushing to Lamont's side--especially those Dems who were about to run for president. From an 08.25.06 AP story about Hillary Clinton's visit with Lamont at her Westchester home:
As if to illustrate the new Clinton-Lamont partnership, Wolfson, who is one of Clinton's senior political strategists, said Friday he would join the Lamont campaign as an adviser.
"She wanted me to do it, and I wanted to do it," Wolfson said. "It's vitally important that we elect a Democrat to that seat."
Of course, when things went sour for Lamont, some of his supporters who had been with him during the primary pointed their fingers at Wolfson. I guess Lamont didn't agree with them.
That's one thing about Lamont that's kind of interesting: He was always a lot more mainstream and establishment than his most fervent supporters--something I tried to capture in this piece I wrote about him early in his campaign against Lieberman. His gubernatorial race will be tough for him in that he won't have the advantage of having an opponent as polarizing as Lieberman. But, in a way, I think this campaign will be a better fit for who he actually is--a moderate-to-liberal Greenwich millionaire businessman, more John Corzine than, say, Paul Wellstone.
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COMMENTS (6)
Because when you're looking for Governors or Gubernatorial Candidates, Jon Corzine's your man? Did you fall asleep last week?
Because when you're looking for Governors or Gubernatorial Candidates, Jon Corzine's your man? Did you fall asleep last week?
Perhaps Lamont will find support in some prominent mainstream-to-moderate liberal political journal...? On second thought.
Perhaps Lamont will find support in some prominent mainstream-to-moderate liberal political journal...? On second thought.
Businessman? Moderate? He's a coupon clipping leftie.
Businessman? Moderate? He's a coupon clipping leftie.
crock, yeah you beat me to it. Ct. is right next to NJ (kind of). if this analogy takes hold the guy really is doomed.
crock, yeah you beat me to it. Ct. is right next to NJ (kind of). if this analogy takes hold the guy really is doomed.
lsernoff, what does that mean? Why is clipping coupons worthy of disparagement? Sorry if we all can't afford your Pâté de foie gras or your pate de campagne w cornichon served chilled, with plenty of cornichons alongside.
lsernoff, what does that mean? Why is clipping coupons worthy of disparagement? Sorry if we all can't afford your Pâté de foie gras or your pate de campagne w cornichon served chilled, with plenty of cornichons alongside.
blackton - "clipping coupons" is worthy of disparagement because it implies that the clipper has not made his fortune by building a business or career but by inheriting a portfolio of stocks and bonds which yield income not worked for. It further implies that said clipper has thus acquired no hard-won expertise in his or her field. Lamont amply demonstrated his lightweight bona fides in his last go-round, so someone would have to explain to me what exactly are his qualifications for Governor aside from his ability to finance his own campaign. He could well become known as "Ned the Clipper".
blackton - "clipping coupons" is worthy of disparagement because it implies that the clipper has not made his fortune by building a business or career but by inheriting a portfolio of stocks and bonds which yield income not worked for. It further implies that said clipper has thus acquired no hard-won expertise in his or her field. Lamont amply demonstrated his lightweight bona fides in his last go-round, so someone would have to explain to me what exactly are his qualifications for Governor aside from his ability to finance his own campaign. He could well become known as "Ned the Clipper".