Former Gov. John G. Rowland says that Democrat Susan Bysiewicz obviously heard that U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman will announce Wednesday that he will not seek re-election and "so she jumped in today.''
Rowland says there is no other explanation because the announcement by Bysiewicz had no bells, whistles, balloons or supporters. Instead, she announced by an e-mail that was sent to reporters on Tuesday morning.
That is sharply different from Bysiewicz's announcement last January when she ran for Connecticut attorney general. With her children and husband surrounding her, Bysiewicz stood in the town hall of Middletown - her hometown - and announced her candidacy.
That did not happen this time.
"Nobody announces by e-mail,'' Rowland said Tuesday on his afternoon radio show on WTIC-AM. "You don't do an e-mail announcement for a major U.S. Senate race ... in the middle of a snowstorm.''
Many schools were closed Tuesday as a mixture of snow, sleet, and rain poured down upon Connecticut - prompting many families to be more focused on the weather than on politics.
Bysiewicz, though, appeared on the major network affiliate newscasts Tuesday in Connecticut. Wearing her trademark red suit, she appeared in interviews on Channels 3, 8, and 30 in the heavily watched newscasts at 6 p.m.