CLICK HERE for a story about the Republican Congressional Committee's apparent plans not to target 5th District Congressman Chris Murphy in 2010 as a race it will pour resources into and thinks it can win.

That's a big change in a formerly solid Republican district that has been a fierce battleground between the two national parties over the last three or four elections.

Was Murphy's re-election to a second term that strong over Republican Sen. David Cappiello?

And one wonders, due to the historic Republican strength in the 5th District, whether this strategy will change if an unusually strong 5th District challenger emerges.

(Such as, let's say, our own Sen. Andrew Roraback?)

CLICK HERE for ctlocalpolitics.com's report on the 5th District congressional race's campaign spending reports. Incumbent Christ Murphy spent $2.8 million to Republican opponent David Cappiello's $1.3 million.

Congressman Chris Murphy is dominating election returns throughout the Torrington area and Northwest Corner appears headed to an easy re-election victory over Republican state Sen. David Cappiello.
A bad sign for Cappiello is Murphy's victories in some of the most heavily Republican towns in the 5th District, such as Goshen.

CLICK HERE for the latest overall tally.

From Register Citizen Staff Writer David Hutter...
DANBURY — State Sen. David Cappiello, the Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District of Connecticut, has greeted voters in Danbury, Waterbury, New Britain, Farmington and Brookfield today, his communications director Adam Bauer said today at 6:50 p.m.
"He has gotten through as many towns as he possibly could today," Bauer said. At this very moment, Cappiello is "shaking hands at Danbury High School," Bauer said.
Cappiello campaigned in Torrington on Monday.
In the six days preceding today, Cappiello stumped in each of the 41 towns of the district, Bauer said.
"We’re feeling very good about where we are," Bauer said. "Everywhere he has gone he has gotten a very positive response. We’re seeing a very large voter turnout. ... We will be celebrating his victory at Anthony’s Lake Club in Danbury. ... We’re in for a long night."

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, has greeted voters in Torrington at The Armory and at other polling sites in Farmington, Cheshire, Meriden, Danbury, Waterbury, and Newtown, communications director Kristen Bossi said today at 6:30 p.m.
Murphy will be heading to the Holland Hughes Center in Waterbury at 8 p.m. to hear the results of the race. Murphy is running against Republican candidate and State Sen. David Cappiello, human rights lawyer and Green Party candidate Harold Burbank, and retired physician’s assistant and Independent Party candidate Thomas Winn.

CLICK HERE for the Hartford Courant's analysis of campaign cash raised by candidates for U.S. Congress in Connecticut this year. As you can probably tell from the number of TV commercials and glossy cards you've received in the mail, Chris Murphy has a massive edge over Republican opponent David Cappiello.

From registercitizen.com today:

CLICK HERE for "Nader sticks to anti-corporate message in final days of campaign."

CLICK HERE for "Gloves come off in 5th District congressional race."

CLICK HERE for "Democrats see chance to widen majority in state legislature."

CLICK HERE for "FROM THE PUBLISHER: What choice do we have in Wilber mess?"

Republican state Sen. David Cappiello, who is challenging incumbent 5th District U.S. Congressman Chris Murphy, will continue his "41 towns in 6 days" tour of every community in the district before Tuesday's election today.
He'll start the day at the Twin Colony Diner in Torrington, campaigning with state Rep. Anne Ruwet, who is running for re-election in the 65th District, and state Rep. Kevin Witkos, who is running for the open 8th District state Senate seat.
After Twin Colony, he'll be making stops at T&M's Village Market in Goshen, Baird's Country Store in Cornwall Bridge, walking Main Street in Sharon and Salisbury, stopping at the Collins Diner in Canaan, the Mountainside Cafe in Falls Village, walking downtown in Norfolk, visiting downtown businesses in Litchfield and ending the day at Giovanni's Restaurant in Morris.

The Republican-American has endorsed three Republicans for U.S. Congress - Chris Shays in the 4th District, David Cappiello in the 5th District and Joe Visconti in the 1st District, arguing that if Obama wins, it will be dangerous to have one party control both the presidency and Congress.

CLICK HERE for the paper's endorsements.

State Sen. David Cappiello, challenging incumbent Congressman Chris Murphy in the 5th District, announced today that he will visit all 41 cities and towns in the district one more time in the six remaining days before the election.

"I'm ending this campaign just as I began it- by visiting each of the 41 cities and towns I hope to represent in Congress and hearing directly from the voters about their concerns," said Cappiello. "I'll be visiting diners, speaking to students, and going wherever voters conduct their daily lives to listen to their concerns and ask for their support. As a State Senator representing a very diverse district, I have been able to effectively advocate for my constituents' interests because I have gone to great lengths to learn about and understand the communities I represent. The Fifth District is a very diverse mix of people and communities, and they deserve a representative that is committed to being in town and in touch with their needs. During the course of the last eighteen months, I have made it a point of earning the public's trust face to face, one voter at a time. As Election Day nears that effort will be redoubled, and I am confident it will result in a victory on Tuesday."

Cappiello will kicked off the tour with a visit to the New Fairfield Regional Hospice breakfast this morning in New Fairfield.

The tour's schedule will be updated on www.davidcappiello.com

A popular national Web site that follows polling data and other poltical news, www.politics1.com, is predicting that Congressman Chris Murphy will beat Republican state Sen. David Cappiello to win re-election to a second term in the 5th District, "solidifying his hold on the seat."

Speaking before the Torrington Rotary Club last week, Congressman John Larson, a Democrat from East Hartford who represents Connecticut's 1st District, which includes part of Torrington, said he wasn't afraid or ashamed to say that he likes "earmarks" and will continue to fight for "good ones" for the district.
He cited a multi-million grant he obtained for the Fuel Cell company, which is based in Danbury and has a manufacturing plant in Torrington.
Earmarks have been blasted in this election cycle by Sen. John McCain in his presidential bid, as well as numerous other politicians.
In fact, David Cappiello, a Republican state senator from Danbury challenging Congressman Chris Murphy in the 5th District, had used the Torrington Rotary Club just a week before to blast earmarks, going as far as to say that he would oppose an earmark for the Warner Theatre in Torrington if he had to, in order to clamp down on wasteful federal spending.
Below, a press release Larson sent out yesterday celebrating more earmark "success."

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Congressman Larson and Department of Public Health Announce $8 Million in Federal Funds
to Support State’s Mobile Field Hospital Mobile Field Hospital to be developed into New England Disaster Training Center and model for civilian mobile hospital response

To: News Directors/Reporters

W hat : The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) will announce over $8 million in federal funds for the development of a national training center at Connecticut’s Ottilie W. Lundgren Memorial Field Hospital.

W here : Brainard Airport, Hanger
269 Maxim Road in Hartford, CT

W hen : Monday, October 27, 2008 at 10:30 AM

W ho :
· U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01)
· Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin
· Leonard Guercia, Jr., Chief, Operations Branch, Department of Public Health

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