Bush hands-off in Connecticut

Deputy presidential press secretary Dana Perino confirmed today that President Bush would not campaign for the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut, who badly trails Democrat Ned Lamont and sitting Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who is running an independent bid to retain his seat.

Largely unknown Republican Alan Schlesinger has garnered historically low poll numbers in the race. In addition, there were published reports last month that Schlesinger had once run up large gambling debts and had gambled under an assumed name.

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WND asked Perino at today's White House press briefing: "On Monday, the New York Times reported that Tony Snow refused to say the president will support and campaign for Connecticut Republican nominee Alan Schlesinger. My question: This is primarily because Lamont, the Democratic nominee, has accepted public support from Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Maxine Waters, and Schlesinger has slipped to a single digit. Isn't this the reason Tony didn't want to answer that question? Or would you like to answer the question?"

Responded Perino: "I'm going to leave it where the president left it on Monday, and I will give you that transcript so that you have it."

"He will not campaign for this Republican, will he?" asked WND.

"He will not," responded the spokeswoman.

Earlier this month, Lieberman lost the Democratic primary in Connecticut to Lamont.

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WND also asked Perino about a recent Democratic National Committee decision to penalize any presidential candidate who campaigns in any state that refused to follow a prescribed calendar of primaries and caucuses by stripping that candidate of his or her delegates at the Democratic National Convention.

To which Perino responded: "The president doesn't get involved in the Democrats' decisions. The Republican Party has decided to leave those matters to the state and local parties, so we're not going to get involved."

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