In an increasingly nasty race, the three Republican contenders for governor will square off tonight in a live, televised debate.
GOP front runner Tom Foley of Greenwich will battle against Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele of Stamford and business executive Oz Griebel of Simsbury. The contest starts at 7 p.m. in the West Hartford studio of NBC 30.
The two Democrats in the race - front runner Ned Lamont of Greenwich and former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy - participated last month in a similar debate in the same studio.
In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, Foley was leading Fedele by 27 points and Griebel by 37 points. Overall, 44 percent of Republicans polled were undecided. But Foley has told Capitol Watch that his internal polls show him even farther ahead. In the same vein, Fedele said Tuesday that his internal polls show him closer than Quinnipiac's projections.
A new Quinnipiac Poll is scheduled to be released Thursday morning.
Since the last poll, Republicans have been involved in a series of charges and countercharges on multiple issues. On Tuesday, Judge Julia Aurigemma ruled against Foley's request for an injunction that would have blocked Fedele from spending more than $2 million in public funds for his campaign. Foley immediately appealed, and he says the case will be heard by the State Supreme Court.
Regarding tonight's debate, Foley told Capitol Watch: "I hope it stays on the issues.''