Duffee, a retired lawyer, poet and teacher, is throwing his hat into the ring with Westport Democrat Diane Farrell and Greg Maymin, a Greenwich Libertarian, to challenge 10-term Republican incumbent Christopher Shays.

In his first entrance into Connecticut politics, Duffee said his campaign will not focus on the Iraq War, unlike those of Shays and Farrell, but on reforming United States' foreign policy.

"Our capacity to indulge ourselves in fraudulent fiascos like the invasion of Iraq has deep roots in our political culture," he said in a statement. "If we do not examine in detail all the behavior that led up to the invasion, then even if we promptly withdraw from Iraq, we are overwhelmingly likely to make errors just as serious in our dealings with Iran, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon."

Concerning Duffee's candidacy, Farrell said, "I look forward to the Democratic process and I welcome all candidates to become part of the debates."

Duffee said he has called for closure of the Guantanamo detention center and strict observance of international law and supports immediate ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to stop global warming and serious multilateral disarmament negotiations. He said he also advocates full endorsement of the International Criminal Court and impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Duffee is entering one of the country's most watched races one that many speculate will also be among one of the closest races this November, which the Cook Political Report is calling "a toss-up" between Shays and Farrell.

Michael Sohn, Shays' spokesman, said he welcomes the challenge.

"Chris looks forward to debating with him and all of his challengers this fall," he said.

Duffee ran for the school board in the 1980s and has volunteered on the campaigns of several Democratic and Green Party candidates.

Maymin said voters have a choice between coercion and freedom

"There may be four candidates, but there's only one choice," he said. "You can either live life being controlled by government by voting for Farrell, Duffee or Shays, or you can live your own life free of coercion by choosing me."

Whatever the case may be, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said, "The more candidates we have for public officials, the more choices citizens have to choose the candidates who best represent their ideals and beliefs."