After failing to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman in 2006, some thought Greenwich resident and entrepreneur Ned Lamont might seek another route to Washington D.C. by challenging Republican U.S. Congressman Christopher Shays.
But instead it was another Greenwich Democrat, Jim Himes, who rose to the occasion and last night succeeded where so many others failed, soundly defeating Shays in the 4th Congressional District.
Lamont spent the race helping to coordinate Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Connecticut.
So did he experience a bit of regret last night as Himes made local history?
Lamont said Himes is “an ideal person” for the job and he was never interested in opposing Shays.
“I had just come from a pretty long campaign with Senator Lieberman. I’m a guy that’s run his own company for 20 years. I just wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with Congress. I’m 54. Jim’s young. He’s got a great political future and Congress should be a stepping stone,” Lamont said. “I think it all worked out for the better, let’s put it that way.”
