HARTFORD, Conn. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, handed the governor's office after a corruption probe sent former Gov. John G. Rowland to prison, won her first full term in office Tuesday with a decisive victory over Democrat John DeStefano.
Rell's victory keeps the governor's office in Republican hands - one of the few big victories for the GOP in this heavily Democratic state. It also runs counter to a Democratic resurgence that is expected to make significant inroads in the nation's governorships and could swing the balance of power in Congress.
"This is our moment. It really is our time to make a difference for our state,'' Rell told a crowd of supporters at the Hartford Marriott ballroom, her voice hoarse from a cold.
With one-third of the precincts reporting, Rell led with 61 percent to the vote, compared to DeStefano's 36 percent.
Rell drew especially strong support from older voters, people with annual incomes over $100,000 and those who described themselves as regular churchgoers, according to the exit poll data. While Rell received predictable support from fellow Republicans, about one of every three people who cast their ballots for her described themselves as Democrats. She also captured almost two of every three independent voters' ballots.
DeStefano called the governor at 9:45 p.m. to congratulate her. He then made the 10-minute walk from New Haven City Hall to a club called Hula Hanks, where hundreds of supporters greeted him with an ovation as "A Beautiful Day'' by U2 was playing as he walked in.
"We never ran a sensible campaign. We ran a sensational campaign. To Gov. Rell, I sincerely congratulate her and wish her my best,'' DeStefano said. "She has earned our support over the next four years.''
DeStefano said his candidacy was based on an ideal "as old as this country and as powerful as any words every written that America derives strength from the middle class.''
Rell, surrounded by her family and newborn grandson Tyler, made no mention of DeStefano during her short address. DeStefano had criticized Rell for not playing an active role in the campaign. But Rell's running mate, Michael Fedele, called it "just good common sense campaigning.''
"We maintained the high road,'' he said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
