(Host) With just a week until the primary election, the five Democratic gubernatorial candidates scrambled for campaign cash and newspaper endorsements.
Senate President Peter Shumlin got a boost over the weekend when the Burlington Free Press backed his candidacy. Former Windsor senator Matt Dunne has been endorsed by the Stowe Reporter and the Addison Independent. And Lamoille Senator Susan Bartlett has launched a web ad designed to counteract her low name recognition.
Democrat Doug Racine became the latest candidate to present an economic development plan. Racine says as governor he would focus on the state’s basic business strengths – high tech, energy conservation, tourism and agriculture.
Racine sounded familiar themes in his plan. Like the other candidates, he talked about expanding broadband Internet services, early childhood education and investing in the state’s roads, rails and bridges.
But the Chittenden Senator says he will not promise what he cannot deliver.
(Racine) "I think this one is a very realistic plan. It’s recognizing the realities of the situation we’re in. It’s recognizing that there is not a lot of new money for new programs. It’s dealing with that reality in a way that talks about reordering our priorities, analyzing what we are doing, looking to help small businesses, shifting the focus of state government to help those small businesses. The vision is very similar. But it’s very realistic about how to go about achieving that vision."
(Host) Racine said he would consider using the state’s budget reserve funds to help erase an expected deficit. But he said much of the money for his plan could be found within the existing state budget.
Late last week, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz unveiled a proposal to overhaul insurance laws so the state could design a self-insurance health care system.
All the candidates face a deadline this week to report their latest fundraising totals. Republican candidate Brian Dubie has already released his numbers. His campaign said the lieutenant governor raised $92,000 in the last 30 days.