CT: Third Party and Independent Candidates Stand Together to Call for Politics of Inclusion

From the CT Mirror:

Minor party candidates stood on the State Capitol steps today before a small crowd to launch their campaigns and to ask they be invited this election cycle to debates with major party candidates.

"We are very much shut out of the debates and discussion," said Tim McKee, the spokesman for the Green Party, adding that 42 percent of registered voters in the state are not affiliated with any political party. "We want more voices and more choices."

John Mertens, who is running for the U.S. Senate with the Connecticut for Lieberman party, said both of his opponents - Republican Linda McMahon and Democrat Richard Blumenthal - have turned down debates. . .

"Low turnout in the primaries shows people aren't interested in the Republican and Democratic parties. Give us a voice or this will be a none-of-the above election," said Schott Deshefy, a green party candidate for the 2nd Congressional district.