Republican leader: Campaign mailer was offensive to Jews

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — The head of Connecticut’s Republican Party acknowledges a campaign mailer sent by a candidate for state Senate was offensive to Jewish people.

The mailer from Republican Ed Charamut, of Rocky Hill, includes an image of his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Matthew Lesser, with cash in his hands and a maniacal look on his face. Lesser is Jewish.

Charamut defended the mailer Tuesday, saying it was not hateful and was meant to draw a contrast to his own fiscal conservatism.

J.R. Romano, the chairman of the state Republican Party, initially defended the mailer, but has since issued a statement saying that after talking to Jewish friends, he has come to realize the image should be “recognized as offensive, raising anti-Semitic tropes.”

Romano says he has requested a meeting with members of the state’s Anti-Defamation League.