Menendez: DSCC will stick with Blumenthal

by: Jason Springer

Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:15:00 AM EDT

Following the emergence of a video where Connecticut Senate candidate and Attorney General Blumenthal claimed Vietnam service he did not have, Senator Menendez says that the party will not be jumping ship in light of the revelations:

"I think that, first of all, Attorney General Blumenthal has been an incredible advocate for veterans," Menendez told reporters. "I believe he's having an event today where veterans are standing with him and saying, you know, 'Dick Blumenthal has stood by our side.'"
Menendez continued: "He's corrected the record in the past, and I think, you know, his actions as it relates to standing up for veterans over a long period of time speaks volumes [about] both where his heart and his actions are. And so I'm sure those veterans who will be standing up for him today will make the case for him, and I'm sure he will continue to stay in the Senate race, and we will continue to support him."

He can spin it however he wants and say the NY Times wasn't fair in their story, but this is going to be tough to overcome and the video will surely end up in negative ads on rotation. Parsing Menendez's words, if Blumenthal were to say drop out of the race, then the DSCC wouldn't have to abandon their support. No matter who the Democrat is on the ballot, the Senator said this will be a race focused on the contrast with the opponent:

"The reality is that we have not gotten to a full vetting of, you know, the Republican candidate," Menendez said. "There's plenty to talk about in that respect. I think [Blumenthal's] record of standing up for Connecticut citizens, standing up for them as a consumer advocate, standing up for the veterans in that state, standing up against big companies that have tried to rip off the citizens of Connecticut ... when the other side of the equation is viewed, I think voters will have a clear choice."

The Democrats have until May 25 to replace Blumenthal if it appears he is too damaged. This is clearly a self inflicted wound and it remains to be seen whether Blumenthal can recover. Democrats thought they dodged a bullet when Dodd, whose numbers were suffering, chose not to seek re-election. Now it looks like the next one in line could be damaged goods as well. It's not like the issue will go away in the race as one of the Republicans running in the primary Rob Simmons is a Vietnam Veteran himself. He has already called on Blumenthal to apologize "to those whose heroism he has undeservedly capitalized on for his personal political purposes" and that's only the beginning. What do you think should happen?

Jason Springer :: Menendez: DSCC will stick with Blumenthal

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Menendez: DSCC will stick with Blumenthal | 3 comments

NO!!!!!!!!!!!! (0.00 / 0)

i wish Senator Menendez would reconsider this choice.

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Wed May 19, 2010 at 15:05:35 PM UTC

Talk about making a mountain out of molehill (0.00 / 0)

It seems that Democratic sites are more obsessed about it than Republican ones. This is not that big a deal, and Blumenthal handles it well yesterday. He is well-known and well-liked in CT. Barring something else coming out, he's going to win rather comfortably.

Everybody chill out.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Wed May 19, 2010 at 15:28:41 PM UTC

polls not too bad (0.00 / 0)

http://www.rasmussenreports.co...

Even according to Rasmussen Bluementhal is still in the lead against all Republicans.

The story is a bit of an exaggeration itself: They need to pick and choose speechs because it's clear he often does say he wasn't in the war. I think he survives.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Wed May 19, 2010 at 16:52:48 PM UTC