The Corner Report

State Rep. Chris Murphy, left, and Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont are challenging U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson and U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman in the November elections.

By Gale Courey Toensing
CORNWALL, Conn. _ The Cornwall Democratic Town Committee voted unanimously Tuesday night to endorse Democrats Ned Lamont and Chris Murphy -- two long shot candidates who are running for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

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Both men are challenging deeply entrenched, heavily funded incumbents -- U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman and U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson.

Lamont, 52, a millionaire cable company founder from Greenwich, is running against Lieberman, a three-term incumbent who ran as the Democratic candidate for vice president and as Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, and for president in 2004.

State Sen. Chris Murphy, 32, is serving his second term representing the 16th Senatorial District that includes the towns of Waterbury, Southington, Wolcott, and Cheshire. Murphy chairs the legislature’s Public Health committee and advocates affordable, quality health care for everyone.

DTC member John Miller spoke enthusiastically about the endorsements following the meeting. Miller, 75, and Cornwall Democrats Paul H. Baren, 81, and Stephen H. Senzer, 76, drove to a Mexican restaurant in Torrington last week to scope out Lamont at one of his frequent visits around the state where his campaign is picking up support.

The Cornwall Democrats were impressed with what they saw, Miller said.

“Lamont is very progressive. He’s saying all the right things about all the issues that are important to me,” Miller said.

Lieberman has become increasingly unpopular among Democrats – especially progressive, anti-war Democrats – for his support for the war in Iraq and for President George Bush.

The DTC members didn’t need much convincing to support Lamont, Miller said.

“Lieberman has no support among the DTC so it isn’t as if we had a difficult sell,” Miller said.

Cornwall First Selectman Gordon Ridgway made the motion to endorse Lamont.

“The main reason is to help him and also to send a signal to Lieberman that not everyone in this state likes him and likes the way he votes,” Miller said.

Johnson, too, is coming under increased heat, especially for her authorship and support of the “reformed” Medicare drug program, and her endorsement for Bush policies that find little supprot in the Northwest Corner, such as the Patriot Act.

The Medicare "reform" program forces Connecticut elders to choose from a confusing array of 44 different prescription plans -- and promises the mega-pharmaceutical companies, which have contributed so heavily to Johnson's campaigns, an estimated extra $1 billion in profits during the first few years of the program.

Wide ranging changes are needed throughout the system, Miller said.

“I do think the whole thing is not Ned Lamont; at least as far as we’re concerned, it’s important to get rid of Nancy Johnson,” Miller said.

Both Lamont and Murphy have been visiting the Northwest Corner regularly and building grassroots support at private house parties and events such as the meeting at the Mexican restaurant. Murphy will attend a private party in Cornwall on Saturday. A large number of residents from this politically active community are expected to attend.

“The world is such a ... mess and we have probably the worst president in the history of the country. We have a long way to go to fix anything,” Miller said.