The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Lamont backs Biden’s reelection bid
Governor praises president’s track record, says ‘there is still more work to do’
Once it became official Tuesday morning, President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign began collecting endorsements from prominent Connecticut Democrats.
The first note of support came from Gov. Ned Lamont, who praised Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the state’s congressional delegation for ushering in massive investments in infrastructure, along with their support for abortion rights and expanding access to voting.
“As we confront the challenges ahead, we need leaders who have a proven track record of standing up for democracy, fighting for our reproductive freedoms and against censorship,” Lamont said in a statement released by the state Democratic party.
“From day one, Joe and Kamala have made good on their promise to the American people. But there is still more work to do — let’s help them finish the job.”
The governor was planning to hold a brief news conference later Tuesday regarding Biden’s campaign, according to a party spokeswoman.
Lamont was one of Biden’s earliest boosters in his 2020 campaign for the presidency, jumping ahead of the state’s allDemocratic congressional delegation to offer his endorsement of the former vice president.
Biden faced a crowded field of Democrats during that year’s primary. With the benefit of incumbency, the slate of challengers has thinned considerably.
Only two other Democrats — author Marianne Williamson, and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — have officially launched campaigns. Both are considered long shots for the nomination.
Looking past the primary, Connecticut Democrats who offered their support to Biden on Tuesday were quick to contrast his presidency with that of his predecessor and potential 2024 rival: Republican Donald Trump.
“I think America needs his steady, successful leadership,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, describing the president as “calm and deliberate, as opposed to the chaos and confusion of MAGA Republican officials.”
Nancy DiNardo, chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party, pointed to Biden’s success defeating Trump two years ago.
“MAGA Republicans at every level of government are trying to move us backwards on civil and reproductive rights, on gun safety and in so many other ways,
and Joe Biden has proven he can stand up to their extremism and win,” DiNardo wrote in a statement that was released in conjunction with Lamont’s endorsement. “Connecticut Democrats are ready to fight for Biden-Harris to protect our rights and our democracy for another four years.”
Trump has launched a campaign in hopes of a rematch with Biden. Other Republicans who are running include former governors Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson, investor Vivek Ramaswamy and talkshow host Larry Elder.
Biden received support Tuesday from the Newtown
Action Alliance, an advocacy organization founded by survivors of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
“President Biden has demonstrated a personal connection with gun-violence survivors, consistently showing up for them when their families and communities are devastated by unimaginable shooting tragedies,” the organization said in a statement.
The group pointed to Biden’s record of executive orders regarding enforcement of gun laws, his advocacy for a ban on military-style rifles, and his signature of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as reasons for their endorsement.