Cross-posted to My Left Nutmeg
Chris Shays (R-04) might want to start cleaning out his office and packing up his bags.
His district voted 52%-46% for John Kerry in 2004, one of the most Democratic districts held by a Republican in the country. A 17-year incumbent, he was re-elected 52%-48%, a margin of just over 13,000 votes.
Now, with his back against the wall, his 2004 opponant, Diane Farrell, is coming after him again. And this time, she’s out-raising him.
…
Shays expects to report raising about $207,000 in the quarter, bringing his total warchest for the 2006 race to $807,000, said Paul Pimentel, his campaign spokesman. The reports were expected to be filed Friday or Saturday with the Federal Election Commission.
…
“This is a great show of support for my candidacy and for change in the district,” Farrell said. “I am very pleased that in just two short months, we were able to raise more than $300,000, and Im especially pleased that the overwhelming majority of that money came from individual donors within Connecticut and specifically within the 4th District.”
Yes, this is mainly the low-lying fruit for Diane; she’s going back to her donors from the last cycle and pointing out that with a little more name recognition and the current election climate will put her over the top this time.
Still, she’s out-raised a ten-term incumbent by a 3 to 2 margin. And in a district that lies within the New York City media market, that kind of fund-raising success is crucial.
Shays has no natural national constituency, and his harsh words against DeLay (while rarely backed up with action) have cost him the support of the RNC and the RNCC. Diane, on the other hand, will have the full backing of the national party.
In the current climate, with a candidate like her, this seat is ours for the taking.