▼ News

State's Top GOP Lawmakers Back Giuliani

The Stamford Advocate, August 14, 2007

By Brian Lockhart

The legislature's top two Republicans, state Sen. John McKinney and state Rep. Lawrence Cafero, will spearhead efforts in Connecticut to promote former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to the White House.

Giuliani's Presidential Committee last night announced the two Fairfield County legislators will be co-chairmen of the campaign in Connecticut, assisted by state Reps. Dave Labriola, R-Naugatuck, and Penny Bacchiochi, R-Somers.

"I think this is an incredibly important election for the country, so I wanted to be a little more proactive rather than traditionally sitting back and seeing who the party nominates," McKinney, R-Fairfield, said last night.

McKinney and Cafero, R-Norwalk, who could not be reached for comment, have taken the high-profile roles in the Giuliani campaign as Connecticut prepares to join 22 other states in holding primaries on "super duper Tuesday" in February.

Both lawmakers supported a bill, signed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in June, to move the state's presidential primary from March 4 to Feb. 5.

McKinney said he and Cafero will work to rally Republican Town Committees around Giuliani and help raise money.

"I hope it speaks to the strength of the Giuliani campaign that the two leaders in the Republican Party in the legislature have decided he's our best candidate," McKinney said.

Christopher Healy, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, said McKinney and Cafero told him about their decision to help Giuliani win the state, but said they are acting independently.

"I'm neutral in this matter, given the contest we have," Healy said. "There's a lot of interest from several candidates and I want to work with all of them. But the mayor's very lucky to have two outstanding people like Larry and John on his team."

Though Giuliani is known and liked in Connecticut, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has made in-roads in the state.

Greenwich venture capitalist L. Scott Frantz, who in May hosted a fundraiser for Romney, said he's not sure the support for Giuliani will make much of a difference in Connecticut.

"My personal opinion is (Romney) is so far ahead of the other candidates on the Republican side in terms of having the wherewithal to lead this country," Frantz said.

Actor and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson has taken an interest in Connecticut, too. Thompson, who has not officially announced his intention to seek the GOP nomination, was the keynote speaker at the state party's annual dinner, held May 24 in Stamford.

McKinney said he was torn between supporting Giuliani and another GOP contender, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, but decided Giuliani is more moderate on social issues.

One issue of contention between Giuliani and the Connecticut lawmakers who support him may be legalization of medical marijuana.

Giuliani, during a visit last month to Concord, N.H., said there are legal alternatives to marijuana that can be used to manage the symptoms of serious illnesses.

The state legislature passed a bill legalizing medical marijuana, though Rell vetoed it.

McKinney and Cafero voted against the bill, but Labriola and Bacchiochi backed it. Bacchiochi was one of its strongest supporters, testifying about how she risked arrest more than 20 years ago to obtain marijuana for her late husband while he struggled with bone cancer.

Bacchiochi could not be reached for comment.