Race for the 2nd district is underway

This is going to be a closely watched race as Democrats are looking to pick up seats in the House and they see the 2nd and 4th district as possible pickups. Rob Simmons better take Democrat Joseph Courtney (pictured) seriously especially if he loses the base in Groton as he only beat Courtney by a surprising 8 percent (I think someone shold tell Simmons to stop with the Gitmo rice comments and get to work).

From The Norwich Bulletin:

If money is any indication, the race for the second-congressional district is well under way.

Second Congressional District challenger, Democrat Joseph Courtney reported raising $160,000 in campaign contributions in the second quarter of the year, bringing his total fund raising effort to more than $220,000 as of June 30 -- setting a new fund raising record for a challenger.

Despite Courtney's success in the first six months of the campaign, he still lags behind incumbent U.S Rep. Rob Simmons, a Republican, in the fund raising race. Simmons is reporting raising a total of $640,000 for the same six-month period.

[...]

"My campaign is light years ahead of any past Second District challenger, Democrat or Republican."

Simmons previously held that record. In his 2000 campaign against former 20-year incumbent Congressman Sam Gejdenson, Simmons raised more than $1 million -- the first challenger ever to reach that point.

Courtney, however, is already outpacing that mark with his $220,000. Simmons had raised just less than $70,000 for the same period when he was the challenger.
immons said he was particularly pleased with the labor support he has received this year, noting that more than $46,500 in campaign contributions from two dozen labor unions.

Courtney touted that 95 percent of his contributions came from individuals, 94-percent of them from Connecticut residents.

"The outpouring of support in the form of volunteers and individual contributions is simply amazing," Courtney said.

Both of these guys are taking in a great amount of cash so early in the campaign so I think it's fair to say that all of the campaigns in Connecticut are going to be fun to watch.