{news} The Other Other Aug. 8 Primary

[clifford thornton]

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ct1stdistgop0801.artaug01,0,6530927.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics-state<http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ct1stdistgop0801.artaug01,0,6530927.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics-state>



      POLITICS 

The Other Other Aug. 8 Primary
August 1, 2006 
By DAN UHLINGER, Courant Staff Writer 

      The two Republicans battling in the Aug. 8 primary for the right to face U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, both believe they are fighting something bigger than all of them: voter apathy.

      Miriam Masullo of New Canaan, who is challenging Scott MacLean of East Hartland, the endorsed GOP candidate, said voter indifference could be the death not only of the Republican Party, but also of the Democratic Party.

                 
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      "There's a tremendous sense of apathy. A lot of Republicans tell me you're swimming against the tide. On the Democratic side, the problem is worse," Masullo said.

      "Democrats don't realize there is no longer any accountability. This is no competitiveness," she added. "I'm a firm believer in diversity of ideas. It's like when one party gives up the other party goes to sleep."

      In the district's GOP primary in 2002, when Masullo, who was endorsed by the party, lost to Phil Steele, only 5.5 percent of the registered Republicans voted. Larson later defeated Steele in the general election.

      The 1st District is a Democratic stronghold made up of 27 municipalities, including Hartford, which has elected a Republican to the House of Representatives only one since 1948, the year Larson was born.

      Many Republican and Democratic politicians predict there will be another low turnout in the Republican primary and Larson will coast to victory again in the general election.

      Masullo and MacLean even fear their fate may be sealed, no matter who wins the primary.

      "I feel this race just isn't getting any press, this primary really isn't covered by the media except for a story here and there," MacLean said. "The turnout could be very low and that would be too bad."

      Masullo agreed.

      "Everyone's talking about [Democratic U.S. Sen. Joseph] Lieberman and [his challenger] Ned Lamont. No one's talking about the 1st District," Masullo said.

      Neither MacLean nor Masullo has gotten any substantial support in the form of campaign money from Republican donors. Neither candidate has filed a campaign finance report because the $5,000 threshold for receiving or spending money has not been met.

      For the latest campaign finance period, from April 26 to June 30, the Larson campaign reported receiving $204,087 in contributions.

      To drum up interest in the primary, Masullo recently challenged MacLean to a debate, but MacLean, who lives in Hartland, said the offer came too late because the primary is only about 10 days away.

      "There's plenty of time left for a debate. He just doesn't want to be pinned down on the issues," Masullo said.

      "She should have thought of the debate two months ago. There's just no time left," MacLean said. "You can't really nail her down on anything, anyway."

      Masullo and MacLean have sparred over who is the true Republican in the primary.

      Masullo, a computer scientist, has attacked MacLean, a television director, for favoring gun control and opposing the Republican values of small government and low taxes.

      MacLean has responded by saying there should be no one definition of a Republican.

      Masullo has also attacked MacLean's religious denomination, accusing the leadership of the United Church of Christ of supporting terrorists and suicide bombings. MacLean is a retired minister in the church.

      MacLean and his supporters have called Masullo's accusations "delusional ramblings" and preposterous.

      Whatever the outcome of the primary, both candidates believe the main goal of the Republican Party should be to unseat Larson, who is seeking his fifth two-year term.

      "It really hurts me that people just want to go to sleep on Election Day," said Masullo, who lives outside the district in New Canaan but plans to move into it if she wins the primary. "No matter what happens in the race between me and MacLean we have to at least hold Larson accountable."

      Contact Dan Uhlinger at uhlinger at courant.com. 
     
  


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