"I am running for Senate" Chris Murphy (D-CT) declares intent to run for Lieberman's seat

[NewJeffCT]

Source: From Chris Murphy's email

From an email I just received >

"Your support has powered our success over the years and you deserve to hear it first, directly from me.

I've decided to run for the United States Senate.

Connecticut deserves a progressive voice in the Senate focused on creating good jobs at home while bringing an end to our wars abroad.

I've cast some tough votes over the years - against tax cuts for the rich and funding the war in Afghanistan, for the public option and economic stimulus to create jobs - and each was made easier because I knew you were in my corner. Your consistent support is why I am so sure we can pull this off."





Read more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3FXXDbZvs&feature=player_embedded

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youtube video of his annoucement here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3FXXDbZvs&feature=player_embedded

[babylonsister]

1. Excellent news! nt

[NewJeffCT]

2. I like that he said the best way to reduce the deficit

is to end the war in Afghanistan

[babylonsister]

3. I can't disagree with that! I like him and will be curious to see who

else plans on running. He's getting a head start!

[MANative]

4. One other formal announcement from

Susan Bysiewicz - that was yesterday, IIRC. Joe Courtney is also talking about it, but no announcement yet. Linda McMahon will almost certainly run for Repubs.

I volunteered for Chris, especially during his first run, and he's a great guy. Really smart, really focused.

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks for the update, and your personal opinion. I've never met

Chris, but have liked him and what he has to say, so I wish him luck.

[MANative]

8. You're welcome

My inclination is to support him for the Senate run, but I want to see who else throws a hat in. Definitely would support Chris over Susan, but I don't know Joe C well enough to make a distinction. We'll see!

[NewJeffCT]

6. Not sure about Linda

She spent $50 million against Blumenthal and lost by double digits. She spent a lot of time out there schmoozing with a ton of people around CT and still came up short. Usually, the uber-rich types take their one shot & then exit the scene if they lose so they can go back to making money

[CTyankee]

7. Just the THOUGHT of being subjected to any more of her ads makes me crazy...

hmm, how are the repubs going to finance a senate candidate...Linda was a freebie for the party...

[NewJeffCT]

9. They have a slew of wealthy hedge fund types in Fairfield Cty, plus

They have Peter Schiff, who I think would also have been self-funding.

[Jennicut]

12. Don't get me started on that nutball Schiff.

My Mom worked for his Dad in the 70's (it was in accounting, not politics thankfully) and the whole family was nuts. At least I don't see him getting much traction in Connecticut. He comes off as too weird.

[MANative]

10. In about 99% of cases, I'd say you're right on.

The reason I'm not so sure in McMahon's case is two-fold. First, she made a major point of doing all that post-election TV/radio ads to say "thanks" to supporters. She never impressed me as someone overly "proper and polite" so I'm fairly sure there was a point to that beyond the surface. Second, there are still (seriously) many "Linda" signs up in my neighborhood (those that aren't covered by 30+ inches of snow!) and I'm guessing that's supposed to be a message of some sort. I sincerely hope you're right - can't stomach the woman on any level. But I fear she may buck the conventional wisdom on this.

[NewJeffCT]

15. the GOP establishment in CT seems to love her

I'm sure it's mostly because she can self-fund and the GOP in CT is so weak that only self-funders can really be competitive for a major race like Senate.

I think before McMahon & Schiff got into the race against Dodd, there was also talk of Larry Kudlow of CNBC getting into the race for the GOP.

And, McMahon grew up in North Carolina, so her thanking people could be Southern Hospitality.

[Jennicut]

11. He is my Rep. I will totally miss him as a Rep (he has been great) but would love

for Chris to be my Senator. He is a class act, a nice guy and down to earth. Can't say enough nice things about him. And he lives in the town I grew up in, Cheshire. We will have some very good candidates for this Senate seat but Chris Murphy would be my first choice.

[NewJeffCT]

13. He is my rep as well

and, I think it will be tough for Dems to hold onto the Congressional seat if he wins the nomination. However, if he wins in 2012, he'll be 39 years old when he takes office. He could end up having a very long career in the Senate.

[Jennicut]

17. Yeah, that is the only downside. I grew up in Cheshire but then

moved to Terryville in my twenties about 10 years ago. While this area is one of the more affordable in CT, it can lean to the right a bit too much for my tastes. Of course, this is CT so we don't have too many extremists here but I really liked having that seat in Dem's hands. However, like you said, we might get a really good Senate candidate.

[NewJeffCT]

18. I'm not too far from you

In the Farmington Valley, where Republicans have been in power for decades - the last time my town had a majority of Democrats on the town council was in the 1960s. At least Simsbury has had a Democrat as First Selectwoman in Mary Glassman.

[Exultant Democracy]

14. Ill support him over Susan Bysiewicz. nt

[brooklynite]

16. Official website up...

http://www.chrismurphy.com/