CT-04: N.Y. Times, A Frequent Shays Backer, Endorses Farrell
This could tip the race. After backing GOP Rep. Chris Shays in the past, including against Dem Diane Farrell when she last challenged him in 2004, the New York Times is now throwing its support to Farrell. The paper says: "The Times has endorsed Mr. Shays in every race in which he has faced a serious opponent...Still, as his party has moved to the right, Mr. Shays has taken more and more stands with which we have profound disagreement...When Ms. Farrell first challenged Mr. Shays two years ago, The Times chose to endorse him as a rare voice for moderation...Now it is time to draw the line...With due respect for Mr. Shays’s service, we strongly endorse Diane Farrell for Congress."
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Heard a new Shays ad today featuring NYC Mayor M. Bloomberg. Taking the Joe LIE_berman world view that he is able to work as an "independent" voice in Congress. Willing to work with Dems and Repubs to get what CT needs.
I don't live in Shay's district, but driving through Fairfield and Easton there are lots of signs for him on lawns. Slightly more visible in numbers than Farrells. Not sure how that will play out in the voting booth. It'll very close.
From my view, Shays has badly misplayed his campaign. Then again, he supported the WOT and our disaster in Iraq far too long for someone who claims to be now "independent".
I do commend him for having the guts to schedule 11 debates. What other Repub. pol is doing that? He did come out with some wopper bloopers during those. If he were my candidate, I would be wondering.
October 25, 2006 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the key passage of this NY Times endorsement:
Well, yes. And that reasoning can -- and should -- be applied to many, many races on November 8th.
The day can't come soon enough.
Sheila in CT
October 25, 2006 8:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forgot, one "key" passage from the Bloomberg ad says that Shays helped pass "tough reform legislation" with regard to lobbyists - ha,ha - what a joke! Those bills were so diluted and without any subsistance I wonder how anyone could claim they were even with the paper they were printed on.
October 25, 2006 8:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Diane Farrell has this one in the bag. It's over. Getting the Times endorsement tilts the race to her. Why? Because the 4th CD is all of Fairfield County. Shays has long relied on the upper crust Republican vote in order to win. But there is a catch - the upper crust Republican reads the Times. Even though they disagree with Shay's stance on the war, (and did 2 years ago), the Times' endorsement of him reassured them back then.
This time, the Times realized its' idiocy of two years ago, and now endorses Farrell. Most of those upper crust Republicans are going to break for Farrell this time.
October 25, 2006 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Easton is a fairly Republican town. Fairfield's split. Depends on what part of Fairfield you were in ... if you were in the part right near Easton, guess what? You're in the GOPer part of Fairfield.
The sign war means jack. I've worked over 6 races now, and who wins the sign war does not correlate to who wins the election.
October 25, 2006 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink