Democrat Chris Murphy arrived with his family at Cheshire High School just before noon Tuesday to vote for himself for U.S. Senate.
Chris Murphy and 4-year-old son, Owen, walk into Cheshire High School.
It marked the end of a brutal race with Republican Linda McMahon, who between a failed bid for Senate in 2010 and this campaign has spent nearly $100 million of her own funds pursuing public office after retiring from her family’s business, World Wrestling Entertainment.
Murphy, a 5th District congressman who was relatively unknown statewide when he entered the race, appeared to be in deep trouble over the summer. McMahon had the resources to target him with attack ads early while softening her own image as she again courted blue Connecticut.
But recent polls have shown Murphy – with significant resources from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, labor unions and other allies, and a commercial featuring President Barack Obama – pulling ahead a bit in the contest before Hurricane Sandy disrupted the final full week of election season.
“It’s been a long road, but I’m glad today’s here,” Murphy said while standing in line Tuesday. “People are turning out in big numbers all across the state. We have thousands of volunteers out there talking to voters and we feel like it’s going to be a good day.”
Murphy said his position in the polls has been good news.
“But I’ve been on the other side of election eve polls so I don’t trust any polls until I see the numbers come in on election night,” he said.
Murphy has a handful of campaign stops scheduled this afternoon. He’ll await the results at the Hartford Hilton.