Melissa Bailey Photo
Dodd offers advice to Murphy over fruit salad & a muffin.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A week after polls showed Democrats in danger of losing a Connecticut U.S. Senate seat, the message went out quickly at the national party convention: Help Chris Murphy.
Connecticut Democrats focused on Murphy as his race against Republican Linda McMahon for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat becomes increasingly tight. With just two months to go before the general election, the race is neck-and-neck, according to two polls released last week. The two parties are fighting this year for control of the U.S. Senate, with the outcome uncertain. McMahon has gained considerably on Murphy in recent weeks amid a barrage of TV ads targeted largely at women; alarm bells have gone off nationally among Democrats as a result.
The Murphy Save Our Ship message emerged before the convention even officially began Monday, then continued Tuesday morning over hash browns and scrambled eggs at a campaign brunch.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who’s leading an 88-person Connecticut delegation to the Democratic National Convention here, lit the first flare at a cocktail kickoff Monday night.
“We’ve got a Senate race in Connecticut which we cannot lose,” he told the crowd gathered in the “hospitality suite” of the DoubleTree by Hilton near the airport, where the delegation is staying this week.
He drew applause as he lauded Murphy’s candidacy and track record in Congress. Then he sent out a plea.
“If you applauded, and you have not yet written a check” to Murphy’s campaign, “make sure you do.”
The SOS message continued Tuesday morning.
During a visit to the Connecticut delegation, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the DNC, called the race “crucial” for Democrats to hang onto power in the Senate.
“This is so important,” said former Connecticut U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, who addressed the delegation over breakfast at the hotel. “We in Connecticut need to make sure that that seat — the seat my father held — remains in good hands.”
“It is stunning” how many TV ads McMahon is running, said Dodd, who held his Senate seat for 30 years.
“That seat is not for sale.” he declared.
Murphy had raised $5.5 million as of the latest campaign filing on July 25; McMahon had raised over $14 million, a large part from her own pocket book. She is on track to spend $50 million or $60 million on the race, a pace Murphy can’t keep up with.
Asked about the recent polls, Malloy objected: “You guys are writing like it’s unbelievable.” He said the polls are believable because of the amount of money McMahon has poured into her campaign.
Reached by phone, McMahon spokesman Todd Abrajano rejected the notion, repeated often Tuesday, that McMahon is trying to buy the election.
“I think the voters of Connecticut are smarter than would allow someone to just buy a Senate race. Linda has been working harder in this campaign than Chris Murphy has,” he said. “While Chris Murphy is down in Charlotte living it up at his Democratic National Convention, Linda is up here in Connecticut meeting with voters and talking about issues that matter.”
Malloy said if he were Murphy, “I’d raise a little money and get back to Connecticut.”
U.S. Rep. John Larson agreed.
“He’s up against a tidal wave of money,” said Larson. “He’s got to raise money here” before returning home.
Murphy said he plans to make his Charlotte trip short. He arrived Monday evening and plans to head back Wednesday afternoon, before the convention ends.
He said he doesn’t plan any formal fundraisers in Charlotte. He did solicit help from Democratic insiders at a campaign brunch
Tuesday morning, after a breakfast at the hotel, he invited the delegation to a swankier affair than their hotel breakfast: brunch at the Capital Grille in Uptown Charlotte, where most of the convention action is taking place.
A sculpture of a fierce eagle overlooked the white tablecloths of the dining room.
Friends of Chris Murphy paid for a spread of hash browns, scrambled eggs, fruit salad, bacon, blueberry muffins and boxed cereal.
Dodd ate a muffin with a fork and Murphy picked at a fruit salad as they chatted over brunch. Murphy said Dodd has been a mentor to him for decades. As a college kid, Murphy worked for Dodd. Murphy said Dodd gave him advice on the race Tuesday; he said the details were private.
Dodd declined to comment on his conversation or to share what advice he has for Murphy: “I’m out of politics now,” he claimed.
After chatting with Dodd, Murphy worked the room, which buzzed with the kind of Democrats who run phone banks, raise money, and organize vote-pullers on Election Day.
“Tell me what I can do for you when I get home,” offered Fran Eddings (pictured) of Madison, who runs a website called Million Women Speak Out.
Paul Wallace (pictured with Sheila Hayes of Norwich), a delegate from New Haven and a staffer at AFSCME Council 4, said he hadn’t donated to Murphy’s campaign, but he plans to heed Malloy’s request to do so.
“We will — today or tomorrow,” he said.
Hayes said she worked hard in the primary and plans to do so in the general election.
Charles Lee of Greenwich said he plans to host a fundraiser in his home featuring 2006 Senate candidate Ned Lamont and current U.S. Sen. Dick Blumenthal.
“We have to do what we can to counteract Linda’s money. It’s tough,” he said.
“There’s one way to be happy as a Democrat in Greenwich: raise money,” he added. “That’s what we do.”
As he made his way around the room, Murphy shared his take on the polling data with his supporters. He declined to share his analysis with the press.
He downplayed last week’s polls. Swing voters don’t make up their minds until the World Series is over, he said.
He said Tuesday’s event aimed to “galvanize our Connecticut supporters.”
“We can’t outspend McMahon,” he said. “When you have a candidate trying to buy the race,” he said, you need “grassroots” support to beat her. “My friends need to be committed to spending the next two months of their lives” spreading the word about his campaign.
Paul Nuñez of New Haven said he plans to do “whatever they need me to do” to help Murphy win.
In order to win, Murphy has “got to continue to define himself,” Nuñez said.
“He’s got to reach out to the Latino constituency,” added Nuñez, who’s Puerto Rican.
Asked if he donated to Murphy’s campaign, Nuñez said, “It’s possible.” He said he’s given to a lot of Democrats. “I lose track.”
“I could give more,” he said.