Special Interests Denise Merrill Pledges to Fight Reduced By One- A Big One.

Democratic candidate for secretary of the state Denise Merrill pledges to stand up to special interests in her chirpy campaign commercial for Tuesday’s primary showdown with former New Haven alderman Gerry Garcia.  She even has a wholesome baby-holding mom deliver the testimonial that the House Majority Leader will sight wicked special interests conniving to win money, power and advantage at the expense of the common good.  You know the sort.  The ones who lure legislative staffers out of public service and into the gilded cage of corporate serfdom.  Those are the ones Merrill and the mom must mean.

A sharp-eyed Daily Ruction reader thought the same and did a double-take when Connecticut Hospital Association Vice President for Patient Care Regulation and General Counsel Laura Jordan appeared in Merrill’s ad totin’ someone else’s baby and declaring that Denise Merrill will fight special interests. Hospitals are among the most aggressive and well-funded of the many special interests patrolling the halls of government.  Jordan worked for the House Democrats before landing a big job on the CHA team that makes sure the state’s expensive relationship with hospitals isn’t troubled by budget disruptions or intrusive regulations.

Jordan was a late substitution in the Merrill ad when the woman scheduled to certify for viewers that Merrill would fight special interests didn’t show.  Lucky for Merrill that her friend from the CHA could step in and deliver a stirring testimonial.