In some quarters of the Democratic party, a debate is raging over Merrick Alpert. The wealthy businessman, one-time lawyer, military man and father of three is seeking the party’s nomination for U.S. Senate.
Some Democratic officials fear Alpert could play the role of spoiler and hurt presumptive Democratic nominee Richard Blumenthal. According to a report on WFSB Channel 3’s website, the Democratic chairman in Manchester wrote Alpert an email suggesting that he drop his bid.
A similar debate is raging on My Left Nutmeg. Some members of the party’s liberal wing still haven’t forgiven Alpert for trash-talking Chris Dodd on Fox New last year.
Is Alpert a principled, anti-war progressive bent on challenging the status quo, just as Ned Lamont did in 2006? Or is he a self-promoter willing to do and saying anything to make his name, even if it ultimately hurts the party’s chances of winning the seat?