Hundreds are attending a AFL-CIO annual meeting in Hartford on Monday, and political candidates will be lobbying for support from more than 400 delegates and guests.
Howard Dean, former presidential candidate and Vermont governor gave the keynote address and started thimgs off with a shot at Sen. Joe Lieberman.
"Remember who sold you out on health care," Dean said, according to the Mirror. "We're not going to forget in 2012."
The former Democratic national chairman blamed Lieberman for blocked a provision in the bill that would have allowed people younger than 65 to buy into Medicare, the CT Mirror reports.
Sen. Chris Dodd is also at the convention to say his goodbyes and thanks to the Connecticut AFL-CIO, the state labor umbrella group.
Democratic and Republican candidates for Connecticut governor are also scheduled to address the crowd in advance of federation of labor unions endorsements, which are expected to be announced on Tuesday.
Dodd urged delegates and guests to support fellow Democrat Dan Malloy in the governor's race and reminded voters "of what the other crowd got us into," referring to national Republicans.
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Malloy, the Democratic nominee for governor, told labor leaders he needs their help if he's to become the first Democratic governor in Connecticut in a generation.
The former Stamford mayor gave a fiery speech Monday at the state AFL-CIO's political convention in Hartford and said he would bring the experience, middle class values and trust that voters are looking for.
Connecticut's last Democratic governor, William O'Neill, left office in 1991.
Tom Foley, the Republican candidate, is also scheduled to speak on Monday. Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell isn't seeking re-election.
Dodd is not seeking re-election to the Senate, and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and former WWE CEO Linda McMahon are competing for the seat. During his 36 years in the Congress, he said he voted with organized labor 96 percent of the time.
Blumenthal, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, also is scheduled to address the convention. Republican McMahon has also been invited, but it was unclear whether she planned to attend.
