Activity in the Fifth: Speculation and Spending

While politicians and rivals continue to speculate whether State House Speaker Chris Donovan can rise above fallout from a staff member's arrest and subsequent investigation into his campaign finances, the Fifth District Democratic congressional candidate is touting the Twardy Report as proof of his innocence and saying he’s ready to get on with the campaign.

Though former U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy clears Donovan of any knowledge of a quid pro quo arrangement regarding roll your own legislation, many wonder about the holes in the report and whether Donovan’s own lawyer can credibly declare his innocence.

Journal Register Company’s Matt DeRienzo concludes that Donovan will still be the likely winner of the Aug. 14 Democratic primary, in which he faces Dan Roberti and Elizabeth Esty. But DiRienzo says that Donovan is a weak candidate in the sprawling swing district and is unlikely to win against Roraback, whom he calls a social moderate with a “squeaky clean” reputation on ethics.

Kevin Rennie has some interesting revelations on the subject on his Daily Ructions. Today, Rennie points to a campaign document Twardy referred to but refuses to make public that featured seven legislative bills. One is Senate Bill 357; the others are a mystery. By not identifying the bills, Rennie said, Twardy undermines any pretense of independence and leaves voters wondering about other possible connections between bills and campaign contributions.

Rennie also reveals in a Woody Allen tribute that Twardy’s law partner is the father of Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mattei, who is leading the federal investigation into Donovan’s fundraising.

On the other side of the aisle, speculators wonder whether Lisa Wilson-Foley has a shot of winning votes — and, if not, where voters loyal to her would turn — as she too rides out a federal investigation — this into former Gov. John Rowland's simultaneous for the Wilson-Foley campaign and paid consulting work for her husband's business, Apple Rehab.

Meanwhile, Democrat Elizabeth Esty, wife of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection head Daniel Esty, has kept herself above the fray, staying silent on the federal investigations and competitors’ flaws.

Instead, Esty again led the crowded field of candidates in releasing her fundraising totals for the second quarter of 2012. Esty raised $340,000 in the second quarter, has $900,000 in cash on hand, with more than $1.5 million total raised.