https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-calls-in-her-support-for-Lamont-13159524.php
Kamala Harris calls in her support for Lamont
By Emilie Munson
Updated 8:27 pm EDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) speaks during a rally in downtown Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration policies on June 30, 2018. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Photo: Wally Skalij / TNS
Kamala Harris of California joined her fellow U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut on a conference call Wednesday night to urge Democratic activists and supporters in Connecticut to back Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ned Lamont in the November election.
"Ned, given his work and his voice, which has been a voice of courage and a voice that is not afraid to stand up for what he knows we have to do, is the kind of voice that we need as a governor of a major state in this country," said Harris, a Democrat. "In that way, the work that you all will do in electing Ned is going to have not only impact to the people of Connecticut but frankly the whole nation because we need these strong voices in the field."
Harris, widely suspected to be considering a 2020 presidential run, is California's junior senator and former attorney general. Harris and Murphy described each other as friends on the call.
Both criticized Bob Stefanowski, Connecticut's Republican nominee for governor, for his support of President Donald Trump, who endorsed Stefanowski Wednesday morning.
"It's right there in front of us: Ned Lamont, a man of conviction, a man who is right for this time," said Murphy, who is also seeking re-election in November. "Bob Stefanowski, who is going to run with Trump and then govern with Trump."
Stefanowski said earlier Wednesday he would welcome Trump to Connecticut to campaign for him because Connecticut could learn from the national economic policies he has implemented.
"Connecticut is facing one of the worst financial crises in the country thanks to policies of (Gov. Dannel P.) Malloy and Ned Lamont," said Stefanowski in a statement. "I look forward to a vigorous debate on my plans to fix Connecticut and rid once and for all, the culture of corruption in Hartford, even if Malloy and Lamont want to do nothing more than play politics."
Harris noted that Stefanowski ran a payday lending company, Dollar Financial Corp. He also worked at General Electric and was chief financial officer of UBS Investment Bank.
"(Lamont's) opponent would be just a very bad story," Harris said. "It sends a message to the rest of the country."
Both Lamont and Stefanowski won their primaries Tuesday night.
Democratic nominees for statewide office with gather in Hartford Saturday at 11 a.m. for a unity event to promote the party's candidates, said Nick Balletto, chair of the state Democratic party, on the call Wednesday.
emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
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