Connecticut: Himes Reports $800K Haul in Latest Quarter
It seems not everyone is having a financial crisis these days.
Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Himes announced he has raised $800,000 since July 1 in his bid to unseat Rep. Christopher Shays (R). According to Himes campaign, thats a quarterly fundraising record for any Shays challenger.
Shays campaign fundraising totals were not available Wednesday for the fundraising period from July 1 to Sept 30. Most recently, Shays reported having $1.7 million in the bank at the end of June.
A spokesman for Himes campaign said the cash-on-hand totals were not yet available for the third quarter, but the campaign reported having $1.25 million in its coffers on July 23.
These totals show how much Connecticut voters want change in Washington, said Dana Houle, Jim Himes campaign manager. The fact that voters set aside their own financial concerns to make sure Jim wins this race is just one more indicator of how much people of the 4th district want change.
The last GOP House Member in New England, Shays has been a frequent target of Democrats in southwest Connecticut. Shays, however, has held onto the district despite its Democratic lean. It gave Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) 52 percent of the vote in the 2004 White House election.
Americas Mayor Aids Rowlands Bete Noire
State Sen. David Cappiello (R), who is challenging freshman Rep. Christopher Murphy (D) in northwest Connecticut, is getting more fundraising help from his Republican friends.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) stopped by the Pontelandolfo Community Club in Waterbury on Wednesday to host a lunchtime fundraiser for Cappiello. According to Cappiellos campaign, about 300 people attended.
Meanwhile, it appears former GOP Gov. John Rowland (R) is raising money for Murphy, according to a local report. The Hartford Courant reported about an e-mail from Rowland, who was impeached and served prison time for corruption, asking his associates to attend a $250 per ticket fundraiser for Murphy.
A Murphy campaign aide told the Courant that the Congressman was not aware of Rowlands e-mail. Cappiello was one of the first state lawmakers to call for Rowlands resignation and, according to the newspaper, the former governor is still sore about the incident.
