2006.11.09: November 9, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Wilton Bulletin: While Republican representatives across the nation were swept aside by a tidal wave of Democrat wins, Republican Chris Shays held on to his Fourth Congressional District seat
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2006.11.09: November 9, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Wilton Bulletin: While Republican representatives across the nation were swept aside by a tidal wave of Democrat wins, Republican Chris Shays held on to his Fourth Congressional District seat
While Republican representatives across the nation were swept aside by a tidal wave of Democrat wins, Republican Chris Shays held on to his Fourth Congressional District seat
He vowed to make the losses up to their families, and to bring American troops home from a success in Iraq. "I sent them to Iraq and they came home draped in American flags. I think about them almost every day of my life and when the press talked about how tormented I must feel about losing the election, they just did not get it. They just did not get it," Mr. Shays said. "The only torment I feel is about those families and I pray that we will make it right for these families and we will find a way to have our men and women come home from success, not failure. But we find a way to bring them home," he added. Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji in the 1960's.
While Republican representatives across the nation were swept aside by a tidal wave of Democrat wins, Republican Chris Shays held on to his Fourth Congressional District seat
Shays still standing
By John Kovach and Joshua Fisher (Hersam Acorn Newspapers)
Caption: Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., speaks to supporters in Norwalk, Conn., Tuesday Nov. 7, 2006. Diane Farrell challenged Shays for the Fairfield county seat he has held for 19 years. (AP Photo/Ed Betz)
Congressman Christopher Shays, re-elected by a narrow margin, thanks supporters at his campaign party at the Norwalk Inn on Tuesday night. "John Kovach photo
While Republican representatives across the nation were swept aside by a tidal wave of Democrat wins, Republican Chris Shays held on to his Fourth Congressional District seat.
Mr. Shays is one of the few Northeastern Republicans left standing " and possibly the state"s only Republican representative left in the House. That remains to be seen as the state"s Second District was still too close to call on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, with more than 90 percent of the votes counted and a more than 4,000 vote lead for Mr. Shays, it was all but over for his opponent, Democrat Diane Farrell. The Associated Press declared Mr. Shays the winner as did most other media. According to AP, Mr. Shays received 50.4 percent (98,503) to Ms. Farrell"s 48.2% (94,138). Libertarian candidate Phil Maymin received about 1 percent of the vote.
Two years ago, Mr. Shays beat Ms. Farrell by four percentage points.
Gathered around a large screen on which updates were projected as they arrived, supporters of incumbent Mr. Christopher Shays resembled those watching a race. As updates were posted, cheers or groans greeted the shrinking or expanding lead held by Ms. Farrell.
Early results focused on Bridgeport and Stamford had Ms. Farrell holding a double-digit lead. But as suburban towns submitted their counts, the race tightened and the crowd around the screen grew larger.
When Easton favored Mr. Shays by a margin of 69.3 percent to 29.8 percent, Ms. Farrell"s lead was cut down to one-half of one percent.
Eager for an anticipated Republican triumph, one voice in the crowd shouted, "Come on, New Canaan."
The jockeying back and forth continued, the crowd chanting like railbirds at the race track.
"Go, Chris, go," was the chant shortly after 10 p.m., when the incumbent held a lead of 49.9 to 49.5 percent.
At 10:10, when two of New Canaan"s three districts reported Mr. Shays holding a 66 to 34 percent edge, his lead mushroomed to a full percentage point, 50.3 to 49.3.
"He"s got it now," shouted one supporter, as the crowd grew and pressed to be closer to the dais on which a victory or concession speech would be made.
At 10:16, the last six of the 12 precincts in Greenwich were posted. With Mr. Shays winning that town by a 58.2 to 40.6 margin, his lead grew to 50.5 percent to 49 percent.
When the final Darien districts reported and Mr. Shays dominated that town, 66.9 percent to 32.1, a "We want Chris" chant accompanied a lead of 50.9 percent to 48.6.
Some 15 minutes later, a roar erupted as Mr. Shays began to make his way through the crowd from the back of the room, shaking hands with some supporters, embracing others, kissing some on the cheek.
He was introduced by his wife, Betsi, who recalled the hard work that started 32 years ago in her husband"s first campaign headquarters " their living room.
Reflection
At the end of a race seen by some as a referendum on Iraq, Mr. Shays paused to reflect on the deaths of several Fourth District residents Tuesday after his campaign claimed victory over Ms. Farrell.
He mentioned Wilfredo Perez of Norwalk, New Canaan High School graduate Jack Dempsey and Nicholas Madaras of Wilton, among others.
He vowed to make the losses up to their families, and to bring American troops home from a success in Iraq.
"I sent them to Iraq and they came home draped in American flags. I think about them almost every day of my life and when the press talked about how tormented I must feel about losing the election, they just did not get it. They just did not get it," Mr. Shays said.
"The only torment I feel is about those families and I pray that we will make it right for these families and we will find a way to have our men and women come home from success, not failure. But we find a way to bring them home," he added.
He also shared the story of an Iraqi politician, who lost a post because he dared visit Israel; whose sons were killed protecting him during the third attempt on his life; and who, when Mr. Shays suggested he could not return to Iraq, replied, "My country needs me."
Mr. Shays said the decision to send troops into Iraq was bipartisan, supported by two-thirds of the House and three-fourths of the Senate.
"These are not the only issues that faced us," Mr. Shays said, adding that he had 11 debates, a move deemed unwise by political experts and television pundits.
In a statement that was rousingly hailed by the crowd, Mr. Shays said the press has to do a better job, just as it tells politicians they must improve their performance.
"Most of the questions I faced were, "How do you feel?" "Are you afraid of losing?" "Did you think about a timeline because of what happened to Joe Lieberman?" " Mr. Shays said. "We need to have dialogue about all the issues."
The American people, he said, need to have faith in an open exchange.
He called for cooperation and compromise, two ideals the Founding Fathers wanted.
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Story Source: Wilton Bulletin
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Fiji; Politics; Congress
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