(cross-posted from Daily Kos and My Left Nutmeg)
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/20/191512/664(snip)
A few weeks after having dinner with local party chairs and less than a week after being introduced to the Democratic Congressional caucus in DC, former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter has made calls to key players in the the district today to say he has decided not to challenge Chris Shays.
(But). . .the good news is that a great local candidate has emerged: Jim Himes, Director of Enterprise New York, a non-profit provider of affordable housing. A fluent Spanish speaker who lived in Peru and Columbia for 10 years, Himes is a Rhodes Scholar who studied Latin American policy at Oxford University. Himes is the Chair of the Democratic Town Committee in Greenwich and knows what it is going to take to beat Chris Shays here in CT-04.
(snip)
Himes definitely has the resume for service in Congress, with expertise in foreign policy, economics, banking, and domestic issues such as affordable housing. Shays fought off two very tough challenges from Diane Farrell, however - could Jim Himes be stronger than Farrell and finally take Democrats over the finish line?
(snip)
Himes can raise the money that it takes to compete, and with a great campaign organization in place, Himes should be able to maintain the gains that Farrell fought for in the more affluent areas of Wilton, Ridgefield, Darien, Westport, and the like. They key to winning in the 4th is holding down Shays' performance in these areas while cranking Democratic turnout in Stamford, Norwalk, and Bridgeport. And that's where Jim's fluency in Spanish and commitment to aggressive grassroots organizing would pay off.
(snip)
much more at the link above. . .
:kick: