Connecticut politics has put Washington’s spin machine into overdrive.
First, the National Republican Congressional Committee blasted out a news release this morning, handicapping the GOP’s chances of picking up the 5th District congressional seat now that Rep. Chris Murphy has decided to run for Senate.
“Connecticut’s Fifth District was already one of more than a handful of seats where we planned to play offense in the Northeast this cycle,” emailed Tory Mazzola, an NRCC spokesman.“ As an open seat, the Democrat’s efforts to hold this district become much more problematic.”
Robby Mook, executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, quickly shot back with this:
“Democratic candidates for President won this district in 2000, 2004, and 2008,” Mook wrote in his own email blast. “Congressman Murphy handily won this seat three times, even in the difficult political environment last year. We are confident that we will win this overwhelmingly Democratic seat in 2012.”