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A rare live edition of Face the State this morning at 11 on WFSB. Host Dennis House is joined by convention-endorsed Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz. Susan Bigelow and I provide commentary in the final segment.

Watch for Paul Doyle to reach he 15% he needs at Democratic convention with a crucial assist from state Representative Willam Tong (D-Stamford). If there’s a second ballot, Doyle votes will go to Tong, which may be enough to make him the endorsed candidate.

If only every union could be like the one between Britain’s Prince Harry and America’s Meghan Markle. They have the advantage of genuine affection and royal courtiers to make seamless adjustments in protocols. The Lamont-Bysiewicz political nuptials are not going so well. Delegate reactions have been muttering about the alliance since the news broke on Daily Ructions Monday. Lamont’s lead among delegates to this weekend’s Democratic nominating convention was sufficient, some said, to deny Bysiewicz the 15% support required to win a spot on the primary ballot. And in the money sweepstakes, Bysiewicz was still trying to reach $150,000 after more than a year of aggressive soliciting. Lamont, the Greenwich plutocrat, has the enduring advantage of a fortune accumulated through the ages. Nevertheless, Bysiewicz bluffed her way onto the ticket.

The aftermath of the Democratic union has seen some movement to Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim (who seems to be collecting signatures at a notable pace) and at least one challenge to Bysiewicz as lieutenant governor from Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, a union organizer from Newtown. Some party leaders and activists are unhappy that Lamont’s choice of Bysiewicz leaves no place for a minority at the top of the ticket. They’ve dubbed the duo the mayonnaise team. This much discontent could lead to considerable unhappiness at a convention that seemed to be turning into a happy occasion as the week began.

National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes has overcome far more than the likes of privileged Mary Glassman. The Simsbury Democrat’s campaign team may have connived successfully to work the switches in mysterious ways at Monday’s 5th CD nominating convention, but they cannot keep Hayes from forcing a primary. A robust response to Hayes’ most recent fundraising appeal may be attributed in part to resentment over the end-of-balloting switches that snatched the party endorsement from Hayes and moving it to Glassman.

The method of declaring and tallying the switches has caused considerable dismay among Hayes supporters who have attempted reconstruct the unusual sequence of events at the Waterbury convention. The tawdry nature of roll call switching that changes the outcome of a convention may turn out to be a burden for Glassman, who has been defeated in two races for lieutenant governor and one for governor.

It’s a lot easier when the Town of Trumbull is footing the bill. Litigious Republican Tim Herbst still has not raised sufficient funds to qualify for a generous public financing grant to fund his gubernatorial campaign. The law requires a candidate for governor raise $250,000 in contributions not exceeding $100 each. Veterans suggest a cushion above that amount to compensate for the inevitable contributions that are disqualified in the state election agency review.

Herbst has been raising money through exploratory and candidate committees for more than a year.

Democratic self-funder Guy Smith is close to an alliance with state Representative Charlie Stallworth (D-Bridgeport) to join Smith’s long shot bid for governor as his running mate. Stallworth is in his fourth term in the legislature. His life’s work has been as a minister.

A Stallworth candidacy at this weekend’s Democratic convention could add some complicated logistics. Smith will not qualify for the August primary ballot by winning 15% of the delegates on Saturday. Stallworth, however, could strike a chord with delegates eager to fulfill what they see as an implicit promise by likely nominee Ned Lamont to choose an African-American for lieutenant governor. Instead, Lamont chose Susan Bysiewicz for the sake of a quiet life.

The convention could become roiled over the selection of Bysiewicz, who may have bluffed her way onto the ticket from her sinking gubernatorial bid, and provide other hopefuls with the votes to force a primary.

The great stab in the back will not go unanswered. The Saturday roll call for state treasurer at the Republican convention settled nothing. State Senator Art Linares (R-Westbrook) continues to raise money to qualify for public financing for his primary challenge to Salisbury investment pro Thaddeus Gray.

Gray eked out a close win over favorite Linares. The state senator and his campaign boosters are furious at unexpected votes cast for Gray by Danbury and Fairfield delegates.

Linares needs to raise $75,000 in contributions of no more than $100 each in order to qualify for the state’s campaign finance bonanza. Gray is not asking taxpayers to foot the bill for his campaign.

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Ganim today issued the following statement on the announcement of a joint ticket between Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz.

“Today’s announcement of a Lamont-Bysiewicz ticket changes nothing regarding our campaign.  With almost 8,500 signatures of voters in hand, it is clear we have the support of the people to be on the August Democratic primary ballot to fight for economic, political and social justice.

The people of Connecticut want change, not more of the same.

Our diverse and inclusive grassroots campaign has never been about top-down endorsements by party insiders or having the most money, but it has been about the passionate support of tens of thousands of Connecticut citizens who want a new Connecticut economy that works for everyone, not just a few.  It’s about fighting for working and middle class families who are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Having been honored by the people of Bridgeport with a second chance, it’s about making sure every Connecticut resident has at least a first chance to succeed.  Democratic voters deserve a real choice this August, and we will give it to them.”

Judge Jane Emons just wanted a vote in the House. That’s all she asked. Speaker of the House Joseph Aresimowicz responds to my recent column on the injustice visited upon Judge Jane Emons by Aresimowicz and State Representative William Tong (D-Stamford) with a letter to the editor.

The rank unfairness in this chilling episode was visited upon Judge Emons by Aresimowicz and Tong, not on them.