Progressive candidate for lieutenant governor Dean Corren  has been invited to address the Democratic State Committee on July 26 in Montpelier.  

Recognizing the essential value of a Democratic endorsement, Corren will be making the case that he has a lot to offer  with his candidacy.

Says Democratic Party Executive Committee member, Selene Hofer-Shall:

“There is a lot of interest in Dean’s candidacy, particularly because he qualified for public financing, and his synergy with the Governor on healthcare.”

Corren has already demonstrated the ability to marshall popular support and set valuable precedent for campaign finance reform, by becoming the first candidate to qualify for matching public funding.  

This success has nettled the somewhat dozy Phil Scott, who has apparently gotten a little too accustomed to going unchallenged.

Nose out of joint, Scott sniffed petulantly about opposing public funding because he doesn’t want to “burden taxpayers,” thereby betraying his not-so-nice-guy side, while demonstrating a profound misunderstanding of the democratic purpose of public funding.

And Corren knows just exactly what he can bring to the Democratic table that, for all his centerist camouflage, Republican Scott most certainly never will:

“Democrats and Progressives alike want to make sure we follow through on creating a real comprehensive VT healthcare system.  Vermont needs a Lt. Governor who will help make that happen.  That’s the overriding reason I got into this race, and why I am asking Democrats to write me in on the primary ballot in August.  Working together is the best way to get the job done,” said Corren.

As Corren points out, Democrats endorsed two other “outsiders” in the last election, Independent ,Bernie Sanders and Progressive, Doug Hoffer.

Those endorsements turned out rather well for Democrats, and Corren is hoping that similar support can be mobilized around his candidacy, with or without the grumpy old men of the Blue Dog fringe.