Former Gov. John G. Rowland says that the constant negative commercials that have been filling the Connecticut airwaves will boomerang and hurt voter turnout on November 2.
Rowland said on his radio program on WTIC-AM that the negativity is a "total turnoff'' that will depress the turnout.
"I think it's going to be an all-time low,'' Rowland said Monday. "I don't see passion for the candidates.''
During the August primary, only 25 percent of Democrats voted in the primary between former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy and Greenwich cable TV executive Ned Lamont. About 30 percent of Republicans voted in the three-way primary that was won by Greenwich business executive Tom Foley over Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele and longtime business executive Oz Griebel of Simsbury.
The primaries featured numerous negative commercials, and that trend has continued for the general election. The negative ads are not only in the governor's race but also in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Linda McMahon.