It would’ve been fun.
Republican State Senator John McKinney, son of the late Stewart McKinney, trying to win the congressional seat that his dad occupied for roughly 16 years. The timing wasn’t right for John and his family, McKinney told Connecticut Post reporter Ken Dixon.
Now what?
Former State Senator Rob Russo, a Bridgeport resident, is taking a serious look at a run. He’s calling Fairfield County GOP friends to line up support. In March 2008, Russo won a special election for the state senate seat formerly occupied by Mayor Bill Finch. Russo lost his seat last November (to Anthony Musto), as did Chris Shays to Democrat Jim Himes, as a result of Barack’s blow out in Bridgeport.
Russo, a graduate of Fordham Law, ran ahead of Shays in Bridgeport, and that will be part of his argument to win over party regulars. He lives in Bridgeport and will outperform other GOP candidates in the city while winning traditional down county Republican towns.
Republicans believe they can win back Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District. Printing money, they say, is not the way to resuscitate the national economy. And the 2010 campaign dynamic will be completely different without Barack on the ballot. The Bridgeport turnout, for one thing, will be dramatically lower. And if the economy doesn’t turn around voters will punish Democrats the way they punished the GOP in 2008.
Meanwhile Himes is amassing a campaign warchest. The GOP candidate will need at least $2 million to wage a competitive battle. Other Republicans could jump into the mix. Stay tuned.
(Check out my daily blog at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)
