Outside the debate

As mentioned in my last post, the goings-on outside the theater can be as interesting - and sometimes more interesting - then the actual debate that takes place inside. A couple of things caught my eye as I milled around outside before heading in:
- A member of the Green Party, sporting a Clifford Thorton for Governor button, was outside gathering signatures on petitions to put the party's slate on the November ballot. Since the vast majority of those at the Garde were supporters of the two Democratic gubernatorial challengers, it was a bit surprising to see people signing the petitions.
- Also collecting signatures outside was State Rep. Diana Urban , R-North Stonington, who is mounting an independent candidacy for U.S. Senate - the backup (insurance policy) candidate for anti-Lieverman voters in the event Ned Lamont is unsuccessful in next month's Senate primary.
- Also showing up was a small, maybe a dozen , group of Lamont supporters waving campaign signs. I didn't notice any Lieberman supporters.
- And despite the fact that the television cameras never once panned the audience during the debate, representatives of the League of Women Voters - one of the three sponsors of the event - greeted attendees at the door collecting campaign signs and asking that all campaign buttons or shirts be removed before entering the theater.