Surprise endorsement in governor's race

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - With just nine full days left until the state nominating conventions, political unknown Oz Griebel, the former head of the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce, got the endorsement for governor from the highest ranking Republican state legislator – Sen. John McKinney of Fairfield.

“I’ve sat with Oz, I’ve talked to him, I’ve met with him and I’ve seen this incredible potential for leadership that our state needs right now,” Sen. McKinney said.

With his endorsement McKinney is snubbing Greenwich millionaire businessman Tom Foley, who topped the most recent Quinnipiac Poll among Republican voters, and is believed to have the upper hand among the approximately 1,500 convention delegates coming to Hartford on May 21st and 22nd.

The event Monday was obviously aimed at getting the attention of Fairfield County delegates.

“This kind of endorsement is going to help us with that,” Griebel said. “Let’s also face the fact that just because you have money, you have to earn the votes.”

McKinney is also snubbing Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. Both did better in the last poll among Republicans than the relatively unknown Griebel.

But some believe the polling numbers don’t matter much at this point because the majority of Republican delegates are believed to still be uncommitted.

On the Democratic side former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who won the state convention endorsement four years ago, is believed to be on track to win it again. He announced Monday 39 town committees and 50 town chairs have endorsed him.

But in the most recent poll Greenwich millionaire businessman Ned Lamont bested Malloy by a full ten points among Democratic voters. No one doubts he will qualify for a primary.

To qualify for the August primary candidates must get the votes of at least 15 percent of the delegates to the convention. The delegate votes for governor will come on Saturday afternoon, May 22nd, the first cut of what’s expected to be a lively summer contest leading up to the November election.