♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING FROM THE LINCOLN THEATER ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD.

I'M WALTER SMITH RANDOLPH, WELCOME TO CONNECTICUT VOTES 223.

TONIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DEBATE BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE, HOWEVER DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, TONIGHT'S DEBATE HAS BEEN IT CANCEL AND WE ARE WORKING TO RESCHEDULE WHAT PROMISED TO BE A LIVELY DEBATE.

BUT DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL JUST YET BECAUSE AS THEY SAY, THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

SO TONIGHT WE WILL BE GIVING YOU A PREVIEW OF NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

I'M JOINED BY AN ESTEEMED PANEL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

WE HAVE TONIGHT CONNECTICUT PUBLIC PRODUCER AND HOST FRANKIE GRAZ GRAZIANO.

THE HOST OF THE COLLIN MACK ENROE SHOW.

AND UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD.

GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> A JUDGE RULED AGAINST THE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE INDEPENDENT PARTY FROM RUNNING A CANDIDATE.

TELL US WHAT THAT MEANS?

I THINK THERE IS A GREATER SIGNIFICANCE, TOO, IN THE SENSE THAT FIRST OF ALL, NECESSITIED LAMONT HAS THREE LINES THAT HE IS RUNNING ON AND THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS IF YOU THINK ABOUT MAYBE THE REPUBLICAN POSITIONS BEING A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM OVERALL FOR THE TICKET IN CONNECTICUT, SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY OF THE SENATE NOMINEE IS PRETTY ADAMANTLY ANTIABORTION PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND THAT IS A POSSIBLE GENERATOR OF TURNOUT AMONG WOMEN WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DOBBS DECISION.

IF YOU ARE SFEF NOW SKI, YOU THINK WHERE CAN I GO TO GET VOTES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING DEMOCRATIC THIS CYCLE BECAUSE THE NATIONAL MOOD, LINDSAY GRAHAM'S PROPOSAL OR BECAUSE OF LEVY HERSELF.

IF I WERE STEFANOWSKI, I WOULD BE THINKING MAYBE AT INDEPENDENT LINE IS FREE PARKING FOR ME AND HE DOESN'T HAVE IT ANYMORE.

>> THIS ALL STEMS FROM ESSENTIALLY A CLOSE CAUCUS VOTE AND THE CHAIRMAN BEING THE TIE BREAKER.

SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER ESPECIALLY WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN CONNECTICUT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AS MANY REGISTERED REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

HAVE YOU TO WONDER HOW THE CAMPAIGN AND STEFANOWSKI CAN LET SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN WHERE YOU JUST DON'T GET THAT LINE BECAUSE AS DOLL LIN SAID BEFORE, IT'S SO VALUABLE.

25,000 VOTES IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE ABOUT 300,000 SHY IN TERMS OF REGISTERED VOTERS?

>> IT'S NOT ALL TOGETHER CLEAR HE IS GOING TO LOSE 25,000 VOTES FIRST OF ALL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTY IS THAT IT GIVES PEEL AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE AND THE PARTY THEY SUPPORT.

IF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN ELECTION THAT STEFANOWSKI CAN WIN, PEOPLE MAY IN FACT PULL THE LEAVER FOR THE REPUBLICAN OPPOSED TO PULLING THE LEAVER OR SIGNING THE BUBBLE.

BUT THE IDEA OF COURSE IS THAT THIS MAY HURT THE PARTY BECAUSE THE PARTY NEEDS TO GET SO MANY VOTES IN ORDER TO STAY VIABLE AND SO IF IT TURNS OUT THAT PEOPLE GO TO STEFANOWSKI BECAUSE THEY THINK HE HAS A REALISTIC CHANCE OF WINNING, THIS COULD HURT THE PARTY BY NOT HAVING HIM ON THE BALLOT LINE.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

THE OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT, THE GUY WHO IS IN THAT POSITION, CHIP BECT IS THE RUNNING MATE, LONG TIME REPUBLICAN MODERATE REPUBLICAN, SO THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN AND POSSIBLY UNAFFILIATED VOTER ONCE AGAIN NOT COMFORTABLE, NOT FULLY COMFORTABLE WITH SOME OF THE G.O.P.

'S POSITINS RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO THAT'S NOT THE G.O.P.

AND IF I WERE ANYBODY ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET, THAT WOULD MAKE ME VERY NERVE US.

>> SEEMS TO BE AN EVER CHANGING KIND OF POSITION.

I THINK YOU WERE ALLUDING TO THIS WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH STEFANOWSKI AND HIS POSITION PARTICULARLY ON ABORTION.

I WAS THERE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF HIS CAMPAIGN, AT LEAST THE EARLY DAYS AFTER THEY GOT THE NOMINATION AND THE LANGUAGE AROUND ABORTION SEEMED TO BE A BIT MORE TAME.

I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT WORD FOR IT.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE GOEN, I GUESS MORE EXTREME IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, ESPECIALLY AFTER LIZ GRANOWICZ LEFT THE CAMPAIGN.

BOB STEPH NOW CAN I'S-- STEFANOWSKI'S POSITION IS HE HAS BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE WAY HE WAS FRAMING IT EARLIER ON IN THE DEBATE WAS ASK GOVERNOR LAMONT ABOUT ABORTION WHAT HE THINKS.

NOW HE IS OUT AND OUT SAYING HE DOESN'T WANT PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE DECISION.

WE KNOW THAT PARENTAL NOTIFICATION CAN BE A BIG DEAL BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE AT LEAST WITH THE LAMONT CAMPAIGN SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION, IT MAY FORCE PEOPLE IN THOSE SITUATIONS TO EVENTUALLY NOT GET THE ABORTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CONSULT THEIR PARENTS.

>> AN INTERESTING PIVOT BECAUSE WHAT I WONDER ABOUT, TO WHAT EXTENT BECAUSE AGAIN, IN MY MIND AT LEAST, A WAY OF TRYING TO NATIONALIZE THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE REALLY A PART OF THE LARGER NATIONAL CULTURAL ISSUES, YOU KNOW, THINGS ABOUT EDUCATION AND PARENTAL RIGHTS AND, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND PULLING BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY AND LGBTQ BOOKS AND ALL OF THAT, TO ME IN MY MIND AT LEAST IS NATIONALIZING THE RACE.

I'M NOT SURE CONNECTICUT IS SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND SO WHETHER THOSE ISSUES PLAY STATEWIDE AND RESONATE WITH INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENTS.

THE SENATOR OR GUBERNATORIAL RACE, I'M NOT CONFIDENT THE ISSUES WILL PLAY BIG HERE ENOUGH THAT IT WILL GIVE AN ADVANTAGE TO LEVY OR GIVE AN ADVANTAGE TO STEFANOWSKI RUNNING AGAINST A DEMOCRAT ON THOSE KINDS OF NATIONAL ISSUES.

>> WE KNOW PARENTAL RIGHTS IS A BIG CAMPAIGN ISSUE AND ABORTION AS WELLING.

THOSE ARE ISSUES WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LATER IN THE SHOW.

LET'S GET TO THE BALLOT QUESTION THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

AND IT BASICALLY SAYS SHOULD THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROVIDE FOR EARLY VOTING?

LAST TIME WE SAW THIS WAS IN 2014.

IT WAS REJECTED ABOUT 53% SAID NO, 47% SAID YES.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW.

I KNOW LAST TIME IN 2014, IT WAS COMPLICATED.

NOW IT'S SEVEN WORDS.

BACK THEN IT WAS COMPLICATED WASN'T EVEN THE RIGHT WORD.

>> DOESN'T CAPTURE.

THERE ARE OTHER WORDS I WOULD USE BUT WE ARE ON TELEVISION.

>> SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EARLY VOTING.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

>> I'LL START.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO WIN THIS YEAR.

ANOTHER HAT I WEAR, I'M CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR COMMON CAUSE IN CONNECTICUT AND THIS IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE WILL GET THIS DONE AND MOVE CONNECTICUT INTO A PLACE WHERE WE WILL NOT BE ONE OF THE THE ONLY FOUR STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T ALLOW SOME KIND OF EARLY VOTING.

AS WE KNOW PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR CONSTITUTION IN ORDER TO DO THINGS LIKE EARLY VOTING SORE NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE BALLOT.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED.

COMMON CAUSE HAS A PAC WE'VE CREATED TO WORK ON THE ISSUE.

THE SECRETARY HAS A PAC, THE ACLU HAS A PAC TO WORK ON THE ISSUE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN GOOD GOVERNMENT SPACE ARE WORKING ON THIS.

I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR.

>> ONE THING I SAW HERE THAT WAS MORE ENCOMPASSING OF THE WHOLE #EURB, I SAW ON TWITTER ABOUT YOU, YOU HAD SAID THAT.

>> ME?

>> YEAH.

>> WHOA.

>> NOT A BAD THING.

BUT NO, YOU WERE SAYING THAT ACCESS TO THE VOTE IN CONNECTICUT, ESPECIALLY FOR EARLY VOTING OBVIOUSLY IS WORSE THAN GEORGIA.

>> WE LAG BEHIND.

>> THAT WAS BIG FOR ME TO SEE THAT.

>> ANOTHER WAY OF THINKING ABOUT THAT, STATES FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT PASSED IN 1965, THEY JUMPED OUT ON THOSE ISSUES IN PART BECAUSE THEY HAD TO BUT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT CONNECTICUT, YOU KNOW, BLUE STATE, LIBERAL STATE AS WE TALK ABOUT, LAGS BEHIND OTHER STATES AND THE WAY THIS PROCESS MAY WORK OUT, THE WE ARE GOING TO GET IT THIS YEAR.

>> WE DON'T LIKE TO DO CHANGE.

IT SHOULD BE A PRETTY EASY ISSUE.

WOULD YOU LIKE VOTING TO BE MORE CONVENIENT?

WOULD YOU LIKE ELECTION DAY TO BE A LESS PRESSURE FILLED EVENT.

YOU KNOW IN THE LESSONS OF RECENT HISTORY ARE ALSO THAT IT'S BETTER SOME OF THE STUFF GETS DONE EARLY.

WE HAD 2010 WHERE A JUDGE HAD TO KEEP BRIDGEPORT OPEN FOR AN EXTRA HOUR BECAUSE THINGS WERE SUCH A MESS DOWN THERE.

IN 2014, THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY SHOWED SECRETARY OF STATE SHOWED UP AND COULDN'T VOTE IN THE MORNING.

SO THE MORE THAT YOU CAN TAKE SOME OF THE LOG JAP-- THE LOG JAM OUT OF VOTING OWE ELECTRICS DAY, YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE.

SO THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU COUNTERACT THAT, IF YOU ARE ON THE CON SIDE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE MOSTLY THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, IS YOU ARE GOING TO DISCREDIT IT.

YOU ARE GOING TO SUGGEST THAT IT WILL LEAVE THE STATE OPEN TO MORE CHICANERY, TO MORE FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR, THAT SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY.

I THINK THAT'S A TOUGHER AND TOUGHER CASE TO MAKE AS WE GET TO BE A SPAULLER AND SMALLER MINORITY OF STATES NOT HAVING THIS.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ORGANIZED EFFORT AGAINST IT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY COMMERCIALS OR MATERIALS IN MY MAIL BOX OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

>> I DID A STORY ON EARLY VOTING AND I GOT THE OPINION OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RUNNING TO BE THE TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL IN CONNECTICUT AND DOMINIC RAPINI SAID HE IS AGAINST EARLY VOTING BUT HE SAYS HE IS AGAINST IT BECAUSE IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO IMPLEMENT IT.

THERE IS A REASON LEAST THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE AGAINST IT.

STEPHANIE THOMAS SAID SHE DOESN'T THINK EARLY VOTING DISENFRANCHISES BUT DISADVANTAGED VOTERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE EARLY VOTING, IT'S VOTER SUPPRESSION.

BUT GOING FORWARD, HAVE YOU THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT VERY LIKELY CAN PASS.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG THING NEXT SESSION IF IT DOES PASS.

LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE ONE BIG QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, YOU HAVE EARLY VOTING NOW.

OKAY, DO THE BALLOTS GO TO THE TOWN CLERK FOR YOU TO APPLY TO GET THEM OR CAN YOU GET THEM SENT TO YOUR HOUSE?

AND THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT'S TALKED ABOUT NEXT YEAR.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT THING, RACES TO WATCH.

LET'S GO ONE BY ONE.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING.

>> OH MAN, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A FEW INTERESTING RACES BUT I'M LUCKY ENOUGH, I GOT THE FIFTH DISTRICT AND I THINK YOU'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

LET ME PIVOT TO U.S.-2, MIKE FRANCE AND JOE COURT ANY.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF THE RACES ARE GOING TO BE AS CLOSE AS PEOPLE THINK HEY ARE, BUT THERE ARE SOME OUTPOSTS IN WHAT IS CALLED THE 2nd DISTRICT IN CONNECTICUT THAT ARE FREAT PRETTY RED, KILLINGLY, WE ALL KNOW WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH MASCOTS AND EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH.

IT STARTED WITH A MASCOT ISSUE AND THEN IT BLEW UP AFTER THAT.

SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MIKE FRANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE THIS THAT AREA.

ALSO MIKE FRANCE IS A FORMER NAVAL OFFICER.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE BIG THINGS WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SHIP BUILDING.

HE USED TO BE A SHIP BUILDER OR SUPERVISED THE EFFORT FOR THE NAVY IN GRO GRON.

THAT WILL BE SOMETHING-- GROTON.

THE RHETORIC HAS BEEN TURNED UP IN THAT RACE.

HE HAS CALLED JOE COURT COURT ANY UKRAINE AFGHANISTAN, JOE BIDEN'S FAVORITE DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE RHETORIC IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING BIG IN A YEAR LIKE THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE RHETORIC HELPS TO GET MORE VOTES, ESPECIALLY FROM UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

>> THE SECOND IS VERY WEIRD.

IN 2016 IT WAS A BIG TRUMP DISTRICT AND IN THE PRIMARIES A BIG BERNIE DISTRICT.

SO THERE IS A STRONG STREAK OF INDEPENDENTS IN THE FORM OF HIGH PROGRESSIVISM OR HIGH CONSERVATISM, MAYBE NOT AS MUCH OF A MIDDLE.

JOE COURTNEY HAS WON SEVEN STRAIGHT ELECTIONS.

THAT GIVES YOU AN IMPERVIOUSNESS TO GET SOMEBODY OUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING GO RIGHT.

YOU PROBABLY NEED A RED WAVE WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GETTING THIS TIME.

YOU NEED A REALLY STRONG CHALLENGER.

I DON'T SEE THAT IN FRANCE SO MUCH.

THEN YOU KIND OF NEED YOUR INCUMBENT TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

HE HAS TO HAVE A MAJOR VULNERABILITY.

>> OCTOBER SURPRISE.

>> I DON'T SEE COURTNEY, YOU KNOW, HE'S PRETTY WELL KNOWN AT THIS POINT.

THERE RE NOT A LOT OF BIG QUESTION MARKS HIM.

THAT'S A VERY TOUGH RACE FOR COURTNEY TO LOSE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?

>> THE FIFTH.

THE FIFTH IS TYPICALLY THE TIPPIEST DISTRICT IN CONNECTICUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PICTURE IT, IT'S SORT OF PICTURE ROUTE 8 AND IT'S RIGHT AROUND THERE AND IT'S STUFFED TO THE WEST.

IT'S A MERGER OF THE THERE USED TO BE A 6th DISTRICT SO IT'S A MERGED DISTRICT.

HYPERCOMPETITIVE.

THE MOST COMPETITIVIVE DISTRICTS AND THE NEWEST INCUMBENT.

JOHN HAYES IS THE PERSON WHO HAS THE LEAST TIME IN OFFICE.

GEORGE LOGAN IS ALSO A LITTLE MORE FAMILIAR CHALLENGER.

MORE NAME RECOGNITION.

HE HAS BEEN AROUND MORE.

USUALLY THEY HAVE SOMEBODY RUNNING YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.

I CAN SEE THAT BEING-- IF IT'S JUST A TIGHT NIGHT IN CONNECTICUT AND YOU ARE NOT SEEING THE HUGE LANDSLIDE VICTORIES FOR LAMONT AND BLUMENTHAL AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THAT'S THE RACE-- I ACTUALLY THINK THE NETWORKS WILL LOOK THAT RACE ON ELECTION NIGHT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO ATTRACT NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT THE >> WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY WITH THE BIG BOARDS LOOKING AT THAT RACE.

>> AND I HAVE TO SAY, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF LOGAN AND JOHN HAYES COMMERCIALS.

>> I SAID THE SAME THING.

>> EVERY SINGLE COMMERCIAL BREAK.

>> LIKE D.C.C.

IS PUTTING MONEY INTO IT.

>> THAT'S THE MOST FASCINATING ASPECT OF THE RACES GOING INTO CONNECTICUT.

WE ARE SEE SOMETHING VERY NEGATIVE ADS.

2: A LOT OF OUTSIDE MONEY COMING INTO THE STATE AND SO SOMEONE SENSES THAT THESE DEMOCRATS ARE VULNERABLE, AT LEAST THEY WANT TO MAKE A RACE IN THE STATE AND SO THEY'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO THE RACES.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS HAYES IS OUTFUNDRAISED LOGAN BY A LARGE AMOUNT, WHICH IS REALLY SURPRISING JUST HOW CLOSE THAT RACE, SOME POLLS ARE SHOWING.

FOR ME, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE SENATE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND WHICH IS ODD IF MY STUDENTS ARE TALKING-- IF I'M TALKING TO MY STUDENTS I TALK ABOUT HOW BAD IT IS AS A DEMOCRACY THE SENATE IN TERMS OF THE INSTITUTION, IT'S GOING TO BE A FASCINATING RACE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONE RACE WHERE I THINK WE WILL SEE THE REPUBLICAN TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT REALLY AREN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT CONNECTICUT BUT TRY TO BRING IN THE NATIONAL ISSUES.

SO THE ISSUES AROUND CULTUR AND IMMIGRATION, THE ISSUES AROUND-- I THINK FOR HER, THE BELIEF, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL EXCITE PEOPLE TO COME OUT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.

THAT RACE TO ME IS THE MOST FASCINATING ONE BECAUSE I PAY ATTENTION TO NATIONAL POLITICS AND I THINK THIS IS THE ONE THAT WILL CAPTURE THE INTEREST AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.

DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE THE ENDORSEMENT IN THE STATE.

SO FOR HER CAMPAIGN.

I THINK SHE IS GOING GO WITH THAT.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF TRUMP MAKES A VISIT TO THE STATE TO CAMPAIGN FOR HER.

AND SO TO ME, THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, I THINK TURNOUT MAY BE HIGHER THAN WE EXPECT.

WE HAVE BEEN TRENDING SINCE 2006 FOR INCREASED TURNOUT, LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE SHOWING P UP AT THE POLLS AND I THINK THAT TREND WILL CONTINUE.

WILL WE HIT PRESIDENTIAL LEVELS?

NO.

BUT CERTAINLY THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WILL DO BETTER THAN WE DID FOUR YEARS AGO THIS TIME AROUND.

>> ONE MORE THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE 5L1 TH DISTRICT.

>> YOU WANT TO GO ON THAT.

>> YOU GO.

>> I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR... >> 20 SECONDS.

>> I WANT TO HEAR YOU ON THIS.

ONE EFFORT PROBLEMS WE ARE SEEING AND IT'S A PROBLEM THAT IS BORN RIGHT NOW MORE BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAN BY THE DEMOCRATS.

THESE SUMMER PRIMARIES ARE NOT GOOD.

AND SO YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION HERE WHERE LEVY GOT, I THINK 47,000 VOTES TO WIN THE NOMINATION.

BLUMENTHAL, HER OPPONENT, GOT A MILLION PLUS VOTES IN THE LAST ELECTION.

SO 47,000 VOTES, YOU PROBABLY WERE SQUEEZING OUT HER OPPONENT WHO HAS MORE OF A CENTRIST REPUBLICAN PROBABLY HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF PUTTING SOME HEAT ON BLUMENTHAL.

AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE FLIRTED, PARTICULARLY OF AN OPEN PRIMARY.

BACK TO THE NUMBERS, 460,000 REPUBLICANS, 900,000 UNAFFILIATED AND 800,000 DEMOCRATS.

SO IF YOU ARE THE REPUBLICANS, WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO HAVE THE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIMARY SO YOU GET A CANDIDATE WHO CAN GET SOME OF THE VOTES.

THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THEY WON'T PICK THE RED MEAT REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S THE ONE THEY LIKE.

THEY DON'T MIND GOING DOWN IN FLAMES WITH A CANDIDATE WHO IS NOT AS VIABLE IN THE GENERAL AS SOMEBODY ELSE BUT I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OPEN PRIMARIES.

>> I LIKE OPEN PRIMARIES.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN CONNECTICUT AND I THINK WHAT THE PARTIES WANT IS CONTROL OVER THE PROCESS.

BUT THIS TIME AROUND, WHAT WE SAW IS THAT PARTY ENDORSED CANDIDATES AND IT'S NOT JUST CONNECTICUT BUT THIS IS A NATIONAL PHENOMENA, THAT BASE THAT TURNS OUT FOR PRIMARIES SWINGS SO FAR TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT THAT THE PARTY IS LOSING CONTROL IN SOME RACES.

BUT THEY WIN MOST OF THE TIME.

BUT THEY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF SOME KEY RACES AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY, THEY HAVE SOME CANDIDATES WHO ARE MUCH MORE EXTREME THAN THE MAINSTREAM OF THE PARTY WITH LIGHT, MITCH McCONNELL SAID WE ARE KNOT GOING TO WIN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE IS LOOK LIKE A QUESTION MARK AS WELL AS BEING AIL TO HOLD ON TO IT.

BUT I THINK THE IDEA OF OPEN PRIMARIES TO ME, I ENDORSE IT.

I'M NOT MAKING A COMMON CAUSE CALL ON THIS BUT SOMETHING I ENDORSE.

>> I APPRECIATE THE HONESTY THERE.

NOW I KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SITUATION.

JUST BACK TO THE 5th DISTRICT, WAS WAS INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MONEY NATIONALLY FROM THE DEMOCRATS, THERE IS THIS AD THAT POINTS GEORGE LOGAN AS AN ANTIABORTION DEMOCRAT AND HAYES HAS STAYED AWAY FROM THAT SAYING I'M TALKING ABOUT ISSUES WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE RACE AND THAT'S NOT MY AD.

IT'S A DNCC AD BUT I WANT TO GET THE SPOILER ALERT.

I WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE 5th DISTRICT DEBATE BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING IF HAYES STEMS OUT TO TALK ABOUT THAT KIND OF ISSUE OR IF LOGAN EVER TALKS ABOUT ABORTION IN THAT LIGHT.

>> HE HAS SPOKEN BACK ABOUT THAT AND CLARIFIED HIS POSITION BUT THIS IS THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK, RIGHT?

>> YOU THE MOST ANTIABORTION CANDIDATE.

>> HE IS NOT AT ALL.

YOU DON'T RUN THAT CAMPAIGN AD.

YOU GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO RUN THE CAMPAIGN AD AND YOU SAY I CAN'T CONTROL THESE PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> GOT TO GET IT ON THE RECORD THOUGH.

>> GENTLEMEN, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME POLLS.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT POLLS, I KNOW THAT I WAS GIVEN A WARNING BY FRANKIE THAT YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT POLLS?

>> NO.

>> SO EMERSON COLLEGE, POLL SHOWS BLUMENTHAL IS 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS AHEAD OF LEAVE AND EMERSON COLLEGE POLL WITH THE HILL LAMONT IS AT 48.5%, STEFANOWSKI AT 38% AND 9% UNDECIDED.

WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE 13 POINT THING SOUNDS LIKE A BIG LEAD.

FOR BLUMENTHAL, IT ISN'T.

BLUMENTHAL 2-1 IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE AND THAT SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A HENT THAT HINT THAT WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE LANDSLIDES THIS TIME.

WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE , YOU KNOW, MASSIVE DEFEATS OF REPUBLICANS, MASSIVE EXTREME MARGINS FOR DEMOCRATS.

I THINK THOSE POLLS, THOSE TWO POLL NUMBERS, THEY FEEL PRETTY MUCH RIGHT.

I THINK THEY ALSO-- >> YOU LIKE THE EMERSON POLLS BUT THERE ARE OTHER POLLS.

>> THERE ARE TERRIBLE POLLS OUT THERE.

EMMER EMERSON, AND-- I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHER ONE IS.

>> I JUST SAW ONE OUT OF GEORGIA.

>> BUT THEY'RE BASED HERE.

DO ONE HERE.

THOSE ARE BOTH REALLY GOOD POLLS.

AND I THINK THE GUBERNATORIAL ONE IS PROBABLY ABOUT RIGHT.

MY UNDERSTANDING HAD BEEN-- BUT PRIOR TO THE POLL THAT STEFANOWSKI'S INTERNALS WERE SHOWING DOUBLE DIGIT DEFICIT.

>> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT EMERSON WAS THE ISSUES.

YOU HAVE TO SEE, I'M ALWAYS RETICENT TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS UNTIL PEOPLE COME OUT AND VOTE BECAUSE AT LEAST IN THE POLL, THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT PEOPLE WERE VOTING ON THAT ARE BEING SURVEYED IN THIS POLL IS 40% ON THE ECONOMY.

>> THE TOP ONE IS 40% ECONOMY AND THE NEXT ONE IS 14% THREATS TO DEMOCRACY.

>> IT'S INFLATION, GAS PRICES.

WE'VE SEEN STEFANOWSKI TALK ABOUT GAS PRICES AND DIESEL AND THE HAYES AD, TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY AS WELL.

>> YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THOUGH, ORTHODOX IS A BIG ISSUE.

THREATS TO DEMOCRACY ARE A BIG ISSUE.

YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT, ESPECIALLY THE MAJORITY IN THE STATE BUT NOT A BIG ISSUE IN THE POLL.

>> FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT ELECTION YEAR.

IT'S A GREAT YEAR TO BE TEACHING CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS HERE AT THEIST OF HARVARD-- AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HARVARD AND THESE RACES ARE GOING TO BE CLOSER THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATE AND I THINK IT WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF CONTINUING TREND THAT VOTERS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH LEADERSHIP AND ARE WILLING TO CHALLENGE EVEN INCUMBENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOR DECADES TO REALLY GET THEIR ATTENTION AND SAY HEY, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE THE ECONOMY, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> ONE THING THAT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT SOMETHING DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO RECKON WITH GOING DOWN THE LINE.

BLUMENTHAL, I ASSUME THIS IS HIS LAST CYCLE.

JOHN LARSON WAS ELECTED IN 1998.

JOE COURTNEY HAS WON SEVEN ELECTIONS, TIMES SIX ELECTIONS.

DEROSA DURING THE ICE AGE GOT ELECTED HERE.

AT SOME POINT THEY HAVE TO BRING IN FRESH BLOOD AND NOT RELY ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

>> STATEWIDE OFFICE IS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY QUITE DIVERSE AND NEW BLOOD.

>> IF WE HAD MORE TIME... >> WATCH THE INCUMBENTS, HARD TO BEAT AN INCUMBENT AT ALL BUT IN CONNECTICUT PARTICULARLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

OUR DEBATE SERIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CONNECTICUT WILL CONTINUE ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 4.

THAT DEBATE WILL BE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT KATHARINE SHIN WILL BE YOUR HOST LIVE FROM EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CANDIDATES GO TO CSPUBLIC.ORG AND CLICK ON CONNECTICUT VOTES 22.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE TEAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'M WALTER SUBMITTED RANDOLPH, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE.

ANY LAST THOUGHTS?

>> ONE MINUTE.

>> YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB.

ON SHORT NOTICE.

>> WE PUT THIS TOGETHER IN FOUR HOURS?

>> AND YOU KEPT US ALL UNDER CONTROL WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

I'LL JUST QUICKLY SAY, BEING GOVERNOR IS REALLY HARD AND PEOPLE COME UP TO YOU AND YELL AT YOU.

BEING A U.S.

SENATOR IS LIKE LIVING IN DISNEYLAND AND YOUR NAME IS MICKEY.

THAT'S WHY THEY STAY A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO BE IN WASHINGTON.

>> WE GO THE THAT U.S.-2 RACE SHAPING OUT ON OCTOBER 11, OCTOBER 4, OUR NEXT ONE.

STAY TUNED AFTERWARDS.

WE'LL HAVE A POST SHOW AFTER THE DEBATES AND WHICH ONE IS YOURS?

>> U.S. 5.

THAT'S ON OCTOBER 20.

>> RUMBLE!

>> IT WON'T BE HOT FOR ME.

-- IT WILL BE TOO HOT FOR ME.

I WILL BE THE MODERATE.

>> WHEN IS RESCHEDULED.

LINCOLN THEATER.

BRING IT BACK.

>> THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.