Campaign Notes: McMahon Backs Sub Builder, Shays Attacks

Senate

Linda McMahon (R): One of McMahon’s economic plans is to put an end deficit spending, but an area she likely won’t cut would be General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton. The company receives billions of dollars in government contracts to make submarines. McMahon campaigned there earlier this week. On Twitter, she said, “The Groton base is vital to national defense and CT economy.”

Republican rival Chris Shays' campaign shot back with a news release titled "Shays: McMahon Clueless on BRAC"—BRAC stands for "Base Closure and Realignment."

"Here she goes," Shays said in the news release. "She talks about a BRAC and she literally has no concept of what it is.  She's avoiding the press, she's avoiding debates, and when she does come out and speak, she illustrates she doesn't know what she's talking about and is clearly not qualified to be a United States Senator."

The news release quoted an article in the New London Day which said: "If elected, McMahon said, whether she would approve a BRAC round would depend on the proposed cuts."

The news release then went on to say: "However, the decision to start a BRAC process is approved by Congress long before we know what the proposed cuts are. It is only months after the BRAC is approved by Congress that the Department of Defense discloses its recommendation on which bases should stay open and which should close."

Chris Murphy (D): The congressman toed the party line on Twitter when he shared a Washington Post story about a report—written by Democrats in the U.S. Senate—condemning a Republican tax plan.

Fourth District

(includes Darien)

Jim Himes (D): It’s been 40 years since Title IX was enacted. The federal law banned discrimination for any education program or activity. To commemorate, Himes shared a Tweet from Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education. Duncan wrote, “#TitleIX‬is just 36 words long, yet one of the great education & civil rights success stories of the last 40 yrs.”

Steve Obsitnik (R): The candidate earlier this week about his father and the upcoming election. He said the race against Jim Himes is “"salesmanship v. leadership."

ELSEWHERE IN CONNECTICUT:

Third District

Rosa DeLauro (D): Democrats led by Rosa DeLauro are pushing for legislation that reverses a Supreme Court Decision from a year ago. According to The Hill, the Equal Employment Opportunity Restoration Act intends change a decision “that was widely seen as making it harder for groups to pursue class action cases against employers.”

Wayne Winsley (R): The candidate took to Facebook to talk about a campaign event at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford. He wrote, “I am honored by [your] support and faith in my candidacy, this is how We ALL Win with Winsley!”

Fifth District

Justin Bernier (R): The candidate went on the WELI radio station in New Haven to discuss his campaign. The interview has been posted online.

Chris Donovan (D): A hearing to determine whether Donovan’s former aide should be arrested was supposed to take place on Thursday, but was pushed back a month reports the Connecticut Post. The staffer allegedly accepted illegal campaign contributions.