Murphy Gets In The 2012 Senate Race

Congressman Chris Murphy says he, too, will be running in the 2012 election to replace U-S Senator Joe Lieberman.  WNPR's Jeff Cohen has more.

 

It's been a strange week in Connecticut politics, one that began when the former secretary of the state announced in an email Tuesday that she would be running for Lieberman's seat.

 

Then, a day later, Lieberman announced he wouldn't be running.

 

And then, a day after that, Democratic Congressman Chris Murphy said he, too, wants  to be senator.  His announcement came via YouTube.

 

"Hi, I'm Chris Murphy, and I'm running for the United State's Senate."

 

In a conference call with reporters, Murphy said his priority will still be representing the people of the fifth congressional district.  But he said he wants to serve as a senator where he could have a strong voice on issues like job creation, health care, and ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

 

Murphy also said he wants to reform the senate, end what he called its old-boy's network, and change its its filibuster rules.

 

"I've heard a real frustration with the United States Senate and how it too often stands as an unjustifiable barrier to positive change."

 

Murphy said he made his announcement because it was the first day the seat officially became open.

 

"It's going to be a very long campaign, it's going to be very expensive, and though I would have like to have waited, the cost and the scope of modern senate campaigns require you to get started early."

 

Murphy said the two-year campaign could cost $10 million dollars.

 

For WNPR, I'm Jeff Cohen.