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Former Connecticut state campaign manager dies at New Haven charity event

NEW HAVEN — Ben Davol, former state director for John McCain’s presidential campaign, died Saturday in New Haven according to the New London Day. Da...
Ben Davol picture

NEW HAVEN — Ben Davol, former state director for John McCain’s presidential campaign, died Saturday in New Haven according to the New London Day.

Davol, 58, was participating at the Closer to Free charity event.

A spokesperson for Yale New Haven hospital said cause of his death was cardiac arrest.

Davol helped the late Senator McCain during his campaign for the primary contests in New Hampshire and South Carolina. He was an avid McCain supporter and spoke highly of the late senator.

“He’s a real American hero… in the truest sense… and he`s the last one to say that.” Said Davol of McCain. “John McCain was in solitary confinement for 2 ½ years and once a day was taken from his prison cell and tortured, and he lead the fight to recognize Vietnam, that`s the kind of man he is.”

A GoFundMe account was established.

People from across Connecticut’s political spectrum remembered Davol with kind words.  Bill Curry, a two-time Democratic nominee for governor and friend of Davol’s, said he was a ‘thoughtful, funny, kind, loving man’, and said Davol “searched for that elusive American center that could bind us together. I think he got pretty close to it, which means we all could.”

Deputy Secretary of the State Scott Bates said “Our friend Ben Davol passed away today. He was a good man who loved his family, his hometown, and America. He was a political pro who refused to be cynical about the importance of public service.”

 

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