The Connecticut Democratic leadership has been making efforts to rally around their nominated man Ned over the last few days. All has appeared hunky-dory, at least until the Democratic
Speaker of the Connecticut House decided he had to draw attention to himself while the legislature is out of session:
Connecticut House Speaker James Amman of Milford is sticking by Lieberman.
So why is Jim Amman in a huff? Seems his feelings are hurt that Lamont didn't pay ribute while trying to do unimportant things, like, oh, launch a general election campaign.
He says Lieberman has called him three times since last Tuesday's primary asking him for support. Amman says he has not heard anything from Ned Lamont, the Greenwich businessman who won the primary.
Amman represents Milford, along the shoreline to the west of New Haven and West Haven, and Milford gave Lieberman a sizeable margin. Maybe this plays well in his district, but for a Democratic statewide leader to buck the expressed choice of the state's Democratic voters does not send a good message for party discipline, especially in a state where a highly popular Republican governor is likely to cruise to reelection.
I'm from Connecticut, and I've asked my Democratic state representative to support a challenge to Amman's speakership next January. If you are represented by a CT House caucus member, I suggest you might do the same.
UPDATE: Hat tip to Aldon for his comments below (his wife is Lamont's scheduler):
The night of the primary, people from around the country called in to congratulate Ned and to see how they could work together. Rep. Amman was not one of those people who called. The next day, Democratic leaders gathered in Hartford to express support for the whole Democratic ticket. Rep. Amman was not one of those leaders.
Seems like Amman could have had a conversation with the victor if he really wanted to.