GOP Runs Same Losing Play

Connecticut awoke on Nov. 7 to a very familiar gubernatorial election result. GOP leaders are scratching their heads like Wile E. Coyote wondering how their strategy failed again. On talk radio and comment boards, partisans are raging: Connecticut voters are stupid! We deserve what we get! Republicans can’t win! The more circumspect might ask: How could we lose this time?

Connecticut Republicans have run the failed play three elections in a row:

1. Nominate a little-known ideologue with no experience in government and a complete inability to connect with voters.

2. Run a platform best summed up as, “I’m not Malloy.”

3. Lose.

This was a particularly difficult strategy this year as Malloy wasn’t running, forcing Bob Stefanowski to spend energy trying to convince voters that his opponent, who is well documented to be a different person, was actually Malloy.

Those of us without strong loyalty to either party would like to see a race between two qualified candidates with a vision for Connecticut. That means a candidate with experience and who gives voters real reasons to want them in office. Seriously, how did the popular, moderate, female, proven mayor of New Britain not make the cut? Does anyone not believe she would have been celebrating a landslide early on election night?

So GOP leaders, this year do something different. Don’t blame the voters. Stop being the party of “not Democrats” in one of the bluest states in the nation. Prove that you can govern constructively. And next time, remember it’s the election not the primary that matters.

Pete Bradley, Bolton