Campaign Notebook: Formica Gets Down to Business; New Poll Shows McMahon Leading Murphy

Second District

Paul Formica (R) says he "will be announcing a major national endorsement" today at a press conference on the steps of his Flanders' Fish Market and Restaurant in East Lyme. Formica, well known to all of us as East Lyme's first selectman, will also be announcing the launch of his campaign tour of businesses in the 2nd District. His aim is to get across his message that he intends to bring "Main Street commonsense" to Washington, D.C. 

Senate

The back and forth results of the polls continue. The latest poll, commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has Linda McMahon leading U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy by three points, reports Politico. Six hundred likely voters were polled on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 and the margin of error is four points.

The Chamber of Commerce endorsed McMahon, and her campaign described the endorsement as a “a clear rebuke to Chris Murphy’s record on business issues in Congress.”

Murphy’s campaign dismissed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a right-wing organization.

“It's no surprise that the national group that favors the [vice presidential hopeful [Paul] Ryan plan to privatize Medicare, rolling back Wall Street reform, and new tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, would also support right-wing Republican Linda McMahon," said Murphy campaign spokesman Eli Zupnick in a written statement.

Third District

Wayne Winsley wants to debate incumbent U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro at least three times, but it looks like the candidates will only face off once. A debate has been scheduled for Oct. 21 WFSB’s Face the State, according to the Record-Journal.

Fourth District

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D) and Steve Obsitnik (R) squared off on foreign policy in their first debate on Wednesday. According to Patch, “topics ranged from the United States' economic versus military relationship with China to appropriate withdrawal timelines for Afghanistan to the potential fall of the Euro.”

Fifth District

The Connecticut Mirror takes a close look at the race between Elizabeth Esty and Andrew Roraback – and the strategies being used by each of the candidates.

According to the Connecticut Mirror:

The contest pits Elizabeth Esty, a lawyer and former Democratic state representative, against Andrew Roraback, another lawyer who has been a state lawmaker for 17 years, serving in both the House and Senate.

The Ivy League graduates like to call themselves moderates.