Debate brings out tough talk among candidates, supporters
NEW LONDON — The name-calling started less than three minutes into the first debate between the candidates for governor, Republican Bob Stefanowski and Democrat Ned Lamont.
While Lamont used his opening statement to profess his love for Connecticut and call the state’s fiscal crisis a bipartisan problem, Stefanowski used his 30 seconds to reiterate an attack that’s been his go-to thus far on the campaign trail: comparing Lamont with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“Dan Malloy has absolutely ruined this state and the economy,” Stefanowski said. “Ned Lamont is going to be worse.”
The debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London was the first head-to-head matchup between the candidates, drawing a rowdy crowd and a lot of backand-forth banter between the two.
The first half of the debate focused primarily on the state’s economic woes, tolls, crumbling foundations and prison reform. While panelists attempted to draw specifics out of Stefanowski about his plan to eliminate the state income tax, the details he offered were few and far between, though he answered nearly every question by referencing his plan and comparing Lamont with Malloy.
Lamont took only one direct shot at Stefanowski’s relationship with President Donald Trump, drawn into it after a question about the state’s crumbling foundation crisis prompted Stefanowski to say the state needs a better relationship with Washington.
“There’s no question you have a very close relationship with Donald Trump,” Lamont shot back, before saying he would bring insurance companies, banks, the state and maybe even Washington to the table to address the problem.
“Maybe I’d send Bob Stefanowski down to talk to the Trump administration,” Lamont quipped.
Tensions between the camps of Stefanowski and Lamont reached a head before the candidates for governor ever made it to the stage.
Dozens of members from the state’s public employee unions rallied in front of the Garde Arts Center for two hours in support of Lamont, while Stefanowski’s supporters rallied across the street.
By 6 p.m., at least one fight had broken out, drawing state Republican chairman J.R. Romano and Lori Pelletier, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, into the scrum as they attempted to de-escalate the situation.
When one side shouted, “B.S. Bob,” the other responded with, “Retread Ned,” ultimately summing up the discourse between Stefanowski and Lamont, who just days after the primary dubbed each other, “Trumpanowski” and “Ned Malloy.”
The New London debate is known for attracting a lively crowd ahead of divisive political debates.
Sponsored by the New London-based paper The Day and WTNH, the Wednesday debate marked the first head-to-head matchup between Stefanowski and Lamont, who have been trading insults online and in advertising since the Aug. 14 primary.
Stefanowski and Lamont are slated to participate in four more debates prior to the November election.
Independent candidate Oz Griebel was not invited to participate in Wednesday’s debate despite a plea to the Texas-based parent company of WTNH, which set the parameters for participation.