Lamont’s 2018 manager to direct Biden campaign in state

Joe Biden’s campaign for president took on a degree of formal structure in Connecticut with the appointment Wednesday of a state director: Marc Bradley, of Norwalk, the manager of Gov. Ned Lamont’s successful run for governor in 2018.

The job puts Bradley in a position that will keep him in close contact with Democratic constituencies, a useful political exercise for Lamont and Bradley as the governor approaches the mid-point of his first term and nears the soft start of a re-election cycle.

Bradley, who left the administration in February as its director of external and constituent affairs, had been working informally with others on the Biden campaign in Connecticut, primarily by organizing volunteer trips to New Hampshire before its first-in-the-nation primary.

Carried by Democrats in every presidential election since 1992, Connecticut is not a battleground state. The state has strong ties to Biden with Lamont’s status as the first governor to endorse Biden and former Sen. Chris Dodd advising his vice presidential search.

With no statewide races this year, the strength of Biden’s organization could influence turnout and help or hurt down-ballot races for a General Assembly now comfortably controlled by Democrats.

Lamont’s popularity plunged last year as he unsuccessfully sought to implement a system of electronic tolls to fund transportation infrastructure improvements, but his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been approved in most polls by more than 60% of respondents.

The 66-year-old Democratic governor has made no announcement about re-election plans.

Bradley could not be reached for comment.