Former vice president Joe Biden attempted to strike an emotional tone for the reasons Democrats need to turn out to vote for Connecticut’s Democratic candidates in November.
Biden framed the debate as votes for Democrats as being votes for a better version of what America stands for.
“Our children are listening and our silence is complicit,” Biden told the audience of about This is so much bigger than the budget or healthcare or any single issue. This is about our soul, and the world is watching.”
More than 1,300 poured into the Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy for the campaign stop.
Democrats Ned Lamont, Jahana Hayes and US Senator Chris Murphy anchor the ballot for their party this fall, hoping this drive turnout to deliver victories.
Lamont is seeking the office of governor for the second time in his political career. He lost to Gov. Dannel Malloy in the 2010 Democratic primary.
Lamont is up against Republican Bob Stefanowski, who Democrats have described a Donald Trump-like figure, who’s looking to cut the state income tax to the tune of $9 billion.
“I’m the guy that hires people,” Lamont, a wealthy businessman from Greenwich who founded a cable television company. “Bob is the guy that fires people.”
Jahana Hayes is considered the rising star for the Democratic Party in Connecticut. Born in Waterbury, Hayes is a former “National Teacher of the Year,” and running for office for the first time.
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She said during the rally that Democrats need to not be afraid to stand up to Republicans, the party that controls all branches of government in Washington DC.
“We have to be bold,” Hayes said. What kind of Connecticut do you want to live in? What kind of a world do you want to live in? You decide.”
US Senator Chris Murphy, running against Republican Matt Corey, spent much of his time talking about the success of the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut, and vowed to keep it in place and attempt to strengthen it in Congress.
The visit by Biden, and even having Hayes outside of the Fifth Congressional District, was meant to boost support and enthusiasm for Democrats on the ballot.
Multiple Democrats have told NBC Connecticut that they are lacking the same kind of organization and turnout machine in the state’s large cities that they have enjoyed in the past.
In a statement, a spokesman for Bob Stefanowski criticized the visit by Biden, saying, “Because of his sinking poll numbers, we've seen Ned Lamont have to bring in big names like Joe Biden and spend over $12 million to try to buy support because his message of higher taxes and more of the same doesn't stand up well against Stefanowski's plan to lower taxes and restore our economy.”
Manny Santos released a statement responding to his opponent's appearance at the event.
"It is no surprise that my opponent needs help from outside Connecticut, where so much of her fundraising and support comes from. This election is about the voters of the cities and small towns of the 5th District of Connecticut. While my opponent focuses on Washington, my attention is and will remain on the people of the district."
Biden's visit was just a day after two suspected explosive devices addressed to Biden were discovered at postal facilities in Delaware. The devices are similar to others sent to prominent Democrats across the country over the past few days.
