CAPITOL WATCH

Would They Have Applauded The Other Choice?

     The Republican National Committee doesn't like the endorsement of Barack Obama by U.S. Reps. John B. Larson, D-1st District, and Chris Murphy, D-5th District.

     “There shouldn't be any surprise when a lifetime liberal and a first-term rookie endorse a candidate like Barack Obama whose far-left liberal record is surpassed only by his inexperience," says the RNC in a statement.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

I Was Late To The Debate

     Did Joan Rivers do the red carpet?

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Clinton and Obama In Connecticut On The Same Day

     Suddenly, Connecticut is getting crowded with presidential candidates.

     Hillary Rodham Clinton is returning to the state Monday for the second visit in a week, news that has caught even key supporters by surprise. Barack Obama is in Hartford the same day.

     No further details are available on either Democratic visit.

     Republican John McCain is at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield on Sunday.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Be Careful Putting Your Toes in These Waters

     Creating an exploratory committee is likened to a politician putting his toes in the water.

     House Speaker James A. Amann, D-Milford, is launching an exploratory committee for governor tonight at Milford City Hall, where he will be backed by fellow legislators and dogged by liberal bloggers who see Amann's center-right politics as a personal affront.

    They already have a web site, Amann 2010.com, in which they recount Amann's continuing embrace of Joe Lieberman after Lieberman lost the Democratic primary in 2006 and his vote against civil unions for same-sex couples, a bill supported by most Democrats and signed by a Republican governor.

     Their site has a video of Amann's confrontation with bloggers on a train platform. It gives a flavor of things to come.

     These guys are hungering to nip at Amann's toes.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

   

Next, Senator Looney Puts An Entire Roll of Mentos In A Coke Bottle

     The Connecticut Senate Demcrats are going on up on YouTube.

     YouTube has become part of the fabric of political coverage, both for substance (occasionally, an entire campaign speech becomes the hottest video of the day) and for fun (the clip of Chris Shays smooching the president at the State of the Union was available in minutes.)

     I'm not sure how an official state Senate YouTube channel will fare. (For some reason, I just flashed on the withering reaction I inevitably get from my teenaged daughters whenever I employ something from their world: "Way to kill it, Dad.")

     We'll see. The Senate Ds' first featured effort is a video of an earnest Marty Looney discussion on the earned income tax credit intercut with an earnest Marty Looney demonstration of his freaky Heisman trivia knowledge.

     No, I'm not making that up.

     Take a peek.

     And then check out the Mentos.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

    

    

Ralph Nader, Connecticut Native, Looking to Run for President for the Fourth Time

Ralph Nader, the Connecticut native who became the nation's best-known consumer advocate, is looking to run for president for the fourth time.

Nader, who turns 74 in late February, launched a web site Wednesday that announced the creation of an exploratory committee that would set the groundwork for him to run for the nation's highest office. If Nader can raise money, hire talented staff, and gather enough pro-bono lawyers to fight the inevitable lawsuits that will be designed to keep him off the ballots around the nation, then he will make his final decision in about a month.

Blamed bitterly by many Democrats for tipping the balance to Republican George W. Bush in the highly contested race in Florida in 2000, Nader is not giving up as he flicks away the vitriol that is hurled toward him. In his trademark style, Nader railed against corporate welfare and completely dismissed the idea that he was a spoiler in the 2000 race.

"If we all have a right to run for office, then none of us are spoilers,'' Nader said.

Nader called The Hartford Courant on Wednesday afternoon to spread the word on his potential candidacy, which has been covered by CNN, ABCNEWS.com, Reuters, and others. He expressed surprise that Republican John McCain has resurrected his candidacy through huge victories in New Hampshire and Florida. "It's amazing - his comeback,'' Nader said.

Barack Obama Coming to Connecticut on Monday; Conyers in Hartford on Thursday

U.S. Senator Barack Obama is making a campaign stop Monday in Connecticut - most likely in Hartford.

The Senator from Illinois is locked in a close battle with Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, and he is coming off a victory in the South Carolina primary as the campaign moves toward the Super Tuesday states.

Details are still being worked out on Obama's visit, but he is expected to leave Connecticut for an election eve visit to Massachusetts. The arrangements will be posted here when they are available.

In the short term, U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan will be stumping for Obama on Thursday in both Hartford and New Haven. Conyers, who is in his 21st term in Congress, chairs the House Judiciary Committee and is among the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus. He will speak to students at the University of Connecticut Law School on Elizabeth Street in Hartford before traveling to the African American House auditorium on Park Street in New Haven for a "Why Obama?'' event.

--Mark Pazniokas and Christopher Keating

Just In Case Their Intentions Weren't Clear

      House Speaker James A. Amann formally endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president today, two days after being introduced to 1,000 supporters at a Clinton rally in Hartford.

     Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons formally endorsed John McCain for president today, one day after it was reported he will be featured at a McCain rally Sunday in Fairfield.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Page Views Reach All-Time High on Capitol Watch Blog This Week

With the presidential campaigns in full swing and Connecticut's February 5 primary approaching ever faster, traffic on the Capitol Watch blog this week has reached an all-time high.

To all our regular readers, many thanks for coming back.

To all the newcomers - and there are many - welcome aboard!

--Christopher Keating

A Clarifying Picture

     (URGENT UPDATE: The Senate Republican press staff has clarified that Sen. Sam Caligiuri, R-Waterbury, in no way wishes to discourage candid photography, despite an e-mail providing two photos with this message: "Senator Caligiuri has asked that you use these photos of him when you need head shots, as opposed to candid shots."

     A harried press aide says the intent was simply to provide fresh head shots. Therefore, we are expecting an announcement canceling the Sam Caligiuri Unflattering Candid Photo Competition.)

     Attention news photographers: Sen. Sam Caligiuri, R-Waterbury, no longer wishes to be subjected to candid photography and kindly requests that newspapers use only one of two portraits provided by his office.

    So we are informed in an e-mail today by the Senate Republican press staff. Attached are two photographs of Sen. Caligiuri, one in color and another in black and white.

     The mature purveyors of news and information here at Capitol Watch fear there may be unintended consequences to this request.

     In related news, the Connecticut Press Photographers Association wishes to announce the annual Sam Caligiuri Unflattering Candid Photo Competition.

     -- Mark Pazniokas