The White House released the remarks by President Barack Obama, in their entirety, from a fundraiser for Attorney General Richard Blumenthal at a hotel in downtown Stamford.
Blumenthal was leading Republican Linda McMahon of Greenwich by 6 percentage points in the latest Quinnipiac University poll among likely voters in the November 2 election.
The following are remarks:
6:36 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you very much, thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Everybody please have a seat, have a seat.
Well, hello, Stamford! It is good to be back in Connecticut, and it is an honor to stand here with your attorney general and the next United States senator from Connecticut, Dick Blumenthal. (Applause.)
I also want to acknowledge your candidate for governor, Dan Malloy, who is here, or he may have slipped out right before -- there he is. (Applause.) Not sure -- when you're campaigning, you can't be in one place too long. (Laughter.)
And I also want to just say thank you to Cynthia and the kids for lending Dick to Connecticut and to the country. I know it is hard to be the spouse of a candidate and the spouse of an attorney general, and it's going to be tough being the spouse of a United States senator. I promised that I would not let Michelle talk to Cynthia before the election. (Laughter.) It's hard work. But we are extraordinarily grateful. And the fact that David and Matthew and Claire and Mike are doing so well is a testament I know Dick agrees with Mom. So please give her a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Now, Connecticut, let's face it, this decision in this election should be a no-brainer. (Laughter.) Right? (Applause.) I mean, it should be. Should be a no-brainer. Here you've got a man who's been fighting for the people of Connecticut since the day he walked into the attorney general's office. He's got the record to prove it. He's taken on the tobacco industry and helped stop those companies from targeting our kids. He's taken on utility companies to try to beat back electricity rate increases and skyrocketing costs of heating oil. He's taken on the auto industry to help keep family dealerships open that have been around for almost a century. (Applause.)
There is no -- there's no fight too big or too small for Dick Blumenthal to take on. He was there to help a mother get her insurance company to pay for her baby's special formula. He was there to help a family rebuild after their home was destroyed by fire. He's there at county fairs and Rotary Club meetings and PTA meetings, talking with people of this state, listening to your concerns.
This is the kind of leader you want representing you. (Applause.) Somebody you know. Somebody who shares your values. Somebody who doesn't just show up and try to get a victory by writing a big check and flooding the airwaves with negative ads. Now, I have to say -- Dick said his opponent may have more money. Dick, she has more money than you. (Laughter.) I mean, it's -- (laughter) -- just in case there's any confusion. (Laughter.)
And I understand she has promised a "smackdown." (Laughter.) That is what she said. And, look, there's no doubt, I can see how somebody who's been in professional wrestling would think that they're right at home in the United States Senate -- (laughter) -- if the were watching some of the behavior that's been going on. (Laughter.)
But the truth is -- and Dick understands this -- public service is not a game. At this moment, we are facing challenges we haven't seen since the Great Depression. And facing serious challenges requires serious leaders -- leaders who are willing to take on the status quo; leaders who are willing to take on special interests; leaders who are willing to fight for our people and our future. And Dick Blumenthal is that leader. And that's why I need all of you to make him your next United States senator. That's the choice in this election. (Applause.)