The Hartford Courant has endorsed Democrat Dannel Malloy over Republican Tom Foley in the race for governor.
Malloy, who served 14 years as the mayor of Stamford, became the Democratic Party's nominee by defeating Greenwich cable TV entrepreneur Ned Lamont in the primary in August. Foley, a longtime business executive, won the Republican primary on the same day.
The endorsement said that the November 2 election is "a tough choice'' for voters but added that Malloy is "the best candidate'' in the race.
The endorsement concluded by saying, "We liked Mr. Malloy the mayor more than we have liked Mr. Malloy the gubernatorial candidate. He was needlessly obfuscatory about the number of jobs created on his watch in Stamford, and equivocal in his opposition to the death penalty. He sometimes seemed arrogant and combative in the debates, pushing the line between strong-willed and bully.
"Hopefully the smart, strong-willed, hard-working, innovative mayor will re-emerge on Nov. 3. It is a leap of faith we are willing to make.''
The endorsement was released Saturday night in advance of being printed in Sunday's newspaper.