Ned Lamont is exploring a run for governor and he's also exploring the idea of ignoring Connecticut's public campaign financing system. The Greenwich millionaire used $15 million of his own money in 2006 when he ran against U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman. He won the Democratic nomination in a primary that year but lost to Lieberman in the general election.
Some folks close to Lamont say he's about to reach into his deep pockets again.
If Lamont does use his personal fortune to fuel his campaign, it could put more pressure on the already stressed-out public finance program. That's because the campaign finance fund would be required by the law to give Lamont's opponents matching grants equal to what Lamont is pumping out if he goes over the statutory spending limits for participating candidates.
Lamont showed up at a state employee union food drive event Monday, but he wasn't in the mood to talk about whether he'll be using his personal fortune in the governor's race.
"I'll let you know," Lamont said. "I've got to see what the law is."
He's got to see what the law is?
This is the same public campaign finance law that he's praised in the past; the same one that's been hailed as a major step toward removing the influence of special interest and lobbyist money on Connecticut politics; the same program that is supposed to face it's biggest test in next year's statewide elections; the same funding system that could be in crisis because of Connecticut's huge budget gaps.
He's got to see what the law is?
Lamont was the hero of the Democratic left three years ago for taking up the anti-war banner in his challenge of Lieberman. He lost to Lieberman in large part because Connecticut voters didn't know who he really was, a natural reaction to Lamont's almost total lack of experience in politics.
His biggest challenge this time will be to convince those same voters that he knows what he's doing as a candidate for Connecticut's highest elective office.
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