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Campaign Notebook: Older Voters Key to Senate Race

News and updates from the campaign trail in Connecticut.

Senate

The latest issue being batted between the Linda McMahon and Chris Murphy campaigns involve Connecticut’s most reliable voters: seniors.

The Associated Press looks at claims for Murphy’s campaign that McMahon wants to end Social Security (the McMahon campaign denies this).

Among the state’s 2 million voters, 32.1 percent are 60 years old or older, reports the AP. Voter turnout in the 2008 election for people older than 50 was 71 percent.

Third District

Rosa DeLauro, Wayne Winsley and other candidates in Connecticut are planning to speak at a forum on Oct. 28 at Hamden’s Congregation Mishkan Israel. A conspicuous no show, according to the New Haven Register, is Linda McMahon.

Fourth District

Jim Himes (D) received the endorsement of the Lower Fairfield County Latino Delegation.

Steve Obsitnik (R) shared an op-ed on Facebook written by a supporter and published by the Stamford Advocate.

Dave McCarthy wrote:

He is not an ideologue who will blindly support a party line. He is very intelligent and being Connecticut born and bred, will represent the people of the 4th District of our fine state in Washington. He will stand up for us, and not kowtow to extremists to curry favor.

Fifth District

Elizabeth Esty (D) released her first television ad for the general election. Titled “Protect,” the ad makes a play for seniors by saying Esty will support entitlement programs. In ominous sepia tones, the ad states Andrew Roraback will do the opposite.

Andrew Roraback (R) has cried foul about an ad funded by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Roraback calls the ad false, and the editorial staff of the Register Citizen agrees. An editorial in the newspaper calls the ads misleading. 

Second District

Joseph Courtney (D). Courtney's campaign has announced a fall debate schedule with his opponent, Paul Formica (R) for the Nov.6 election:

  • Online Web Forum hosted by The Day - Monday Oct. 15 – 12:00-1:00 p.m.
  • Norwich Bulletin Debate – Monday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.  The debate will take place in the Betty Tipton Room at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic;
  • The Day Debate – Monday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. The debate will take place in the Palmer Auditorium at Connecticut College in New London;
  • Enfield Youth Vote Debate – Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.  The debate will take place at Enfield High. It is sponsored by members of the student body who will be asking questions of the candidates.
melinda tillie October 2, 2012 at 05:40 pm
Linda McMahon is a Rebublican and will follow the Platform of her party. Seniors beware.. she will follow the Romney Ryanplans to cut Social Security by 40% eliminate Medicare as we know it and also Medicaid,and if running as a Republican[ which she] is what about Womens Rights and what are her feelings about Roevs.Wade?Even being a senior,must watch all of these.
melinda tillie October 2, 2012 at 05:53 pm
Ialso meant to add that the Supreme Court will come into play, as two Judges will probably retire. I would feel a lot better if the appointments were madeby President Obama!
DonnaR October 2, 2012 at 08:58 pm
Really Read the Plan at http://roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/plan/
Excerpts RETIREMENT SECURITY Individuals 55 and older will remain in the current system and will not be affected by this proposal in any way: they will receive the benefits they have been promised, and have planned for, during their working years. All other workers will have a choice to stay in the current system or begin contributing to personal Imagine that the money you pay in via payroll taxes could be passed to your heirs. Property Right. Each personal account is the property of the individual, and the resources accumulated can be passed on to the individual’s descendants. current government Social Security benefits, which are subject to reductions or other changes by Congress, and which cannot be passed on…. As Social Security benefits become an individual’s property, the government no longer will be able to raid this money to pay for spending on other programs. accounts.
Hansa Junchun October 3, 2012 at 11:54 am
Same old Democrat terror tactics, spreading fear and horror among the elderly. You are no different than any other agitator from the other side of the world, applying the basest, most vile methods of intimidation, sleaze, and propaganda to vilify and demonize your opponents. Well, I guess elderly terrorism must work, since it is used every election.
Don Charles October 3, 2012 at 01:10 pm
Melinda Melinda Melinda, wake up and see the truth. Your incompetent president took over 700 BILLION dollars from Medicare. The story about the Repubs killing seniors and Medicare is not true and only those with minds like you believe it. Too bad that you and so many have to feel this way.
Oh well one more term and your president will finish his decimating the USA.
Just Sayin' October 3, 2012 at 01:35 pm
PBO did not take or cut 700 billion from medicare. That money is preserved for seniors under the Affordable Health Care Act and is so much more efficiently used that it extends Medicare. The Romney/Ryan plan would phase out Medicare for those under 55 and eventually become a voucher program. Under their plan, the younger you are, the less you end up with. This is truth.
Jacobo Arnez October 3, 2012 at 01:40 pm
Melinda maybe right. I've also heard plans are secretly in the works for the republicans to build large furnaces and "chambers" for who knows what nefarious reasons. I just don't trust these guys. Beware people, this two party system is no good, we need a real leader like comrade Putin in the old USSR.
Just Sayin' October 3, 2012 at 01:41 pm
Its a lot of smoke and mirrors to say if you stay in the current program you will end up with a "voucher" system that will not keep up with the cost of premiums. And if you choose to contribute to a personal account from an Insurance provider you can bet those premiums are gonna cost you. So that's really only an option for the wealthiest seniors, not for all.
Just Sayin' October 3, 2012 at 01:52 pm
Hansa, Linda McMahon DID recently state she would consider a "sunset" proposal for medicare. Presenting her actual position is not fear mongering, Further, Linda McMahon is another "cookie cutter" Republican. Her ads use all the same distortions as Romne/Ryan ads; cut middle class taxes (but budget details don't support it), falsely accusing PBO & Chris Murphy of cutting $700B from medicare (PBO doesn't cut Medicare, he preserves it through ACA), 47% don't pay Income taxes (do we really need to go through that fallacy again?). IF Linda McMahon is elected and IF Romney/Ryan are also elected, she will follow their budget plan in lock step.

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It's probably the same punks who broke into our cars over on Mansfield Grove AGAIN.... the policeRead More think its a bunch of teenagers because they take little things that are not of much value in any cars that arent locked..and are also doing things like slashing tires, etc all over town. They got into my car the same night! Hope you find your scooter
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Lou June 11, 2013 at 09:30 am
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Richard Poulton June 11, 2013 at 10:19 am
WE THE PEOPLE have no say in how governments govern nor how OUR money is spent. WE supposedly electRead More people who take the trust of the people with them when elected and do the will of WE THE PEOPLE. This has never happened. Especially in state and federal office. Once in office the power they discover they now have pushes aside the will of the people. It an attitude of we have the power and you don't. Someday, but I doubt it, we can elect those who will not loose site of why they were elected.