Himes: Obama to campaign in Bridgeport

WASHINGTON–President Obama is planning to make another campaign stop in Connecticut, holding a public rally in Bridgeport just a few days before the election.

Obama is scheduled to come to Bridgeport on Oct. 30^th, according to Rep. Jim Himes, D-4^th District, who stands to benefit the most from an Obama stop in Connecticut’s largest city. Himes announced the presidential stop on Tuesday, according to the Only in Bridgeport blog.

Bridgeport is a Democratic stronghold that helped put Himes over the finish line in his narrow 2008 victory of ex-GOP Rep. Chris Shays.

Some Democrats have been concerned that a lackluster turnout in Bridgeport this year, without Obama on the ticket, will hurt Himes in his tough re-election battle against state Sen. Dan Debicella, a Republican from Shelton.

Polls show the race is tight, with some political analysts rating it as a toss-up. Debicella outraised Himes in the 3^rd quarter by more than $200,000, although Himes still has a significant cash advantage heading into the closing days of the campaign.

Obama campaigned in Connecticut earlier this season for Democrat Richard Blumenthal, in his U.S. Senate campaign against Republican Linda McMahon. But those events were in Greenwich and Stamford–also the site for this week’s stop by First Lady Michelle Obama.