Murphy vs. Cappiello

U.S. Rep. Christopher S. Murphy supports campaign finance reform, an issue he championed while in the state legislature, but that hasn't stopped him from raising a record amount of money since he was elected to Congress last November.In his first three months in office, Murphy, a Democrat who represents the 5th District, raised nearly $420,000, the most ever by a Connecticut congressman during the first quarter of an election cycle, according to the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That's a pace of almost $140,000 per month, or a staggering $4,666 per day....

"Chris Murphy talked a big game on the campaign trail about taking on the special interests," said Ken Spain, an NRCC spokesman, "but now that he is in Congress, he has become an advocate of business as usual in Washington." Murphy's opponent, state Sen. David J. Cappiello, a Danbury Republican, also criticizes Murphy. "It's what he believed two years ago, and it's what we should do right now," Cappiello said. "I would be willing to forgo any special interest, lobbyist or PAC money if he would do the same." (MRJ, by Adam Wittenberg)

Dave Cappiello has the advantage here. But in fairness to Murphy, he could rightly say that Cappiello is not yet his opponent... and that it's entirely possible that another Republican challenger emerges... or even that an independent steps into the ring... and those possible opponents would not be willing to forego PAC money.

Tim White