Connecticut television viewers were bombarded two years ago with hours of advertisements, often disparaging the two veteran lawmakers and their challengers in Connecticut's 2nd and 5th Congressional districts.
The national political parties pumped millions of dollars into both matchups, considered among the hottest in the nation.
In the end, both challengers won as Democrats swept to power in Congress. Joe Courtney beat Republican Rep. Rob Simmons by a mere 83 votes. And Chris Murphy managed to defeat 24-year-veteran Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson by a 12-percent margin.
Things are a little different this year. As Courtney and Murphy seek second terms, the fervor surrounding the two races has dissipated. Neither seat is targeted by the national parties, despite the incumbents being freshmen. Even the television advertising is sparse compared to the 2006 onslaught.
"There's just the one district now that seems to be competitive now," said Gary Rose, a political science professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, referring to the 4th District matchup of Republican Rep. Chris Shays and Democrat Jim Himes.
A University of Connecticut poll conducted in late September of likely voters showed Courtney leading his Republican challenger, former submarine commander Sean Sullivan, 50 percent to 23 percent. UConn has not polled in the 5th District, but Murphy is expected to have the edge over Republican state Sen. David Cappiello.
No matter what Cappiello's says from this point on, even he knows the drill. Everyone gets it, Cappy wants to go out with his head up high but there is NO WAY ANY INTERNAL POLLING HE HAS shows him even within striking distiance of Murphy.
NO WAY.
With Obama's lead in CT at over 20 points, the new number of registered voters tipping overwhelmingly towards the Democrats, and the fact that Murphy's record in the 5th CD is really good, the question isn't who's going to win this race, it's rather if Murphy can land Cappiello the ultimate embarrassment and A: beat him in Danbury or B: lose to Cappiello in Danbury by less than 4 points.
Either way, although most in the poltiical circles won't say it publically, this race is basically over.
...nothing to see here...more along. You want action, then keep your eye on the 4th CD race between Chris Shays and Jim Himes!
04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school
06.03.22 (OP-ED): KUSHNER: "Career Academy ‘a great deal for Danbury"
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
