State GOP: Ct. a battleground state

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. -- There is no time for a convention hangover.

Not for the man trying to convince the Republican National Committee that Connecticut is worthy of finite resources such as battleground ads, additional staff and visits from the party's standard bearers.

State GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. attended a RNC briefing Friday at the Hyatt Regency Tampa, along with his counterparts from other states.

There, he once again pleaded his case that Connecticut could be the unlikeliest of battleground states.

"I realize they have to execute a nationwide strategy," Labriola said. "But there is much to be gained by playing in Connecticut, even if only to divert some scarce Obama resources."

A Quinnipiac University poll released Aug. 28, the opening day of the GOP national convention, showed President Obama's lead over Mitt Romney down to 7 percentage points in Connecticut, 52 to 45.

Obama won Connecticut by 22 points over John McCain four years ago.

In the same poll, the president enjoyed a 51 percent approval rating, compared to a 46 percent unfavorable rating among likely voters. Romney's unfavorable rating topped his favorables, 44 to 41 percent.

State Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo was blase about the talk of the GOP targeting Connecticut.

"No, I'm not concerned," DiNardo said by phone Friday while en route to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Republicans account for the smallest of the three major voter blocs in Connecticut, totaling 412,509, compared to 723,035 Democrats and 818,703 unaffiliated voters.

When the prevailing political winds around the country were at the backs of Republicans in the 2010 midterm elections, GOP candidates failed to win a single statewide office or federal race in Connecticut.

"I have always felt that the people of Connecticut are educated voters," DiNardo said. "They are not going to fall for the lies and deception that Mitt Romney and the Republicans are advocating."

A message seeking comment from the RNC was not immediately returned by the press office in Washington, D.C.

The Romney campaign threw Connecticut Republicans a bone this week, confirming that U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the vice presidential nominee, will visit lower Fairfield County Sept. 30 for a fundraiser that is expected to take place in Greenwich.

"The degree to which they would make that investment remains to be seen," Labriola said during an interview at the Connecticut delegation's hotel in Treasure Island.

Labriola said the race in Connecticut is tighter than in some battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Arizona, according to some polls.

"We'll continue to highlight that many so-called battleground states have a deficit equaling or exceeding Connecticut's," Labriola said.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436;http://twitter.com/gettinviggy

Source: http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/State-GOP-Ct-a-battleground-state-3832445.php

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