Peter Casolino photo
Tea party supporters, including Zeqir Berisha of Waterbury, protest on College Street outside the Owl Shop Thursday in New Haven, where top GOP leaders met for a private fundraiser. (Peter Casolino photo)

The Republican National Committee chairman told a smokey room packed with ambitious Republicans the mantra they’re hoping to make a reality in 2014.

They can “turn Connecticut red again, like Connecticut always was,” Reince Priebus said in the closed event, which brought about 170 Republicans to a private fundraiser Thursday night. They are going to be a party that doesn’t just show up every four years, but in every race.

While Priebus and Republicans from throughout the state and facets of politics spoke amongst themselves of strategies and policy, division in their party showed itself in the form of about 25 protesters gathered across the street.

Click here to read more from Jennifer Swift.

Click here to read the New Haven Independent story on the event to find out how the Republican Party is like the Jets.