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Campaigns confident in final hours

By Neil Vigdor
Staff Writer

November 6, 2006

A Republican voting for a Democrat -- Former Republican Town Committee Chairman Alfred Camilllo makes no bones about it -- he's voting for Joe Lieberman for Senate tomorrow.

it's been that kind of topsy-turvy year in Connecticut politics.

Tomorrow it finally reaches its climax, with voters going to the polls in midterm elections that will decide races from governor and General Assembly to the balance of power in Congress.

Lieberman is seeking re-election as a petitioning candidate in what is expected to be one of the most widely watched races. The 18-year incumbent faces a stout challenge from Greenwich cable executive Ned Lamont, to whom he lost in the Democratic primary because of disenchantment over his support of the Iraq war. Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger has mustered single digits in the polls, with many in his party flocking to Lieberman.

"I was stuck with voting for a liberal Democrat or a guy who's on the far, far left, so I chose the liberal Democrat. I hope I never have to be in this position again," Camillo said. Despite the potential crossover effect of Republicans in the Senate race, Democrats said they felt confident about their chances in the Senate race and other races.

"I'm really as excited as I've ever been," Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Himes said. "I think there is not a race where we don't stand a reasonable chance of winning."

Democrats are hoping to pick up the 4th Congressional District seat held by Republican Christopher Shays, who was trailing in some polls to former Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell. Greenwich Libertarian Phil Maymin is also running.

"I think she's got one of the best shots of winning this thing," Himes said of Farrell.

Democrats also held out hopes of an upset in the state's 36th Senate district, where Frank Farricker is challenging Republican William Nickerson, and in the state's 151st House district, where Edward Krumeich Jr. is matched against GOP incumbent Claudia "Dolly" Powers.

Nickerson's district includes Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan, while Powers represents Riverside, Cos Cob and parts of eastern and central Greenwich.

One Republican leader, meanwhile, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the prospects for GOP candidates, including Shays. In Greenwich, the party possesses what is hardly a secret weapon -- numbers. The GOP owns a 2-to-1 advantage over Democrats in registered voters. Unaffiliated voters in Greenwich rival Republicans in numbers, however.

"We've done everything possible to turn out the Republican base and convince the unaffiliateds to vote Republican," Republican Town Committee Chairman John Raben said.

A former Democrat who has watched election results from both sides of the political spectrum, Raben said he was particularly confident about the gubernatorial and General Assembly races.

Incumbent Gov. M. Jodi Rell enjoyed a 24 percentage point lead over New Haven Democratic Mayor John DeStefano in the latest Quinnipiac poll.

Two Republicans will be assured of re-election tomorrow. State Reps. Livvy Floren, R-149th District, and Lile Gibbons, R-150th District, are running unopposed.

Republican Probate Judge David Hopper and the town's two registrars of voters, Republican Veronica Baron Musca and Democrat Sharon Vecchiolla, are also uncontested. Voters will also get to decide whether to make the town's Human Resources Department permanent under the municipal charter.

In races such as the Shays/Farrell contest, Raben said he was hoping other factors would play a role.

"I think Senator (John) Kerry's incredible comments about education and the soldiers in Iraq have probably energized the Republican base and are causing a lot of unaffiliateds to question turning over the House and Senate to a party that is dominated by the left wing like Kerry," Raben said.

Asked who he was supporting in the Senate race between Lamont, Lieberman and his own party's candidate, Schlesinger, Raben hedged, however.

"What's your next question?" he said.

Democrat Richard Bergstresser said voters must not forget the Iraq war when they think about voting for Shays and Lieberman tomorrow.

"I feel there are many more issues than the war, but the war is critical and both of those guys have been on the wrong side way too long, and their last-minute election time revelations don't hold any sway with me," said Bergstresser, a former first selectman.

Camillo, in contrast, said he dreaded the thought of victories by Lamont and Farrell.

"It's too bad that Shays is in this position, but I'm still hopeful that he may pull it out," Camillo said, adding that he is maintaining an even keel about the GOP's chances tomorrow.

"I have a glimmer of hope we may keep the Senate," Camillo said. "The House looks like it will change hands."