McMahon to Face Murphy in November

Republican Linda McMahon and Democrat Chris Murphy will face off in November for the right to succeed Joe Lieberman in the U.S. Senate.

With 77 percent of the precincts reporting at 10 p.m., McMahon was soundly defeating former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays with 76 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Murphy cruised by Susan Bysiewicz, the Middletown native and former Secretary of the State, by a comfortable 66 percent to 34 percent margin statewide.

Unofficial results from the Middletown registrar put Bysiewicz ahead of Murphy 1,143 to his 985 and Republicans Linda McMahon at 685 votes and Shays claiming 195 in the city polling.

An emotional Bysiewicz, her voice hoarse, addressed the to close to 75 supporters, including Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, former Mayor Domenique Thornton, and state Rep. Matthew Lesser, who gathered Tuesday at the Mattabesett Canoe Club with her husband, children and extended family beside her.

"While we were not successful tonight, we framed the debate that I believe will carry forward to the general election and that is how we can best stand up for the middle class in Connecticut and in our country," Bysiewicz said.

Her speech was short and she left immediately after hugging close friends and family standing nearby.

"Just a few minutes ago, I called Chris Murphy to congratulate him and to let him know that over the next 80 days, we will be work together to make sure that Democrats win this United States senate race."

She asked those filling the upper level of the Canoe Club to join her in standing behind Murphy.

"He will be the best person to carry forward the ideals that we have talked about through the course of this campaign, and that is how we can stand up for the middle class, fight for a better economy, and for fairness of our taxes."

Bysiewicz then asked her Democratic supporters to look ahead to the November election.

"I know that Chris has the best chance to win. Linda McMahon, however, will only continue to be the obstruction that has come to define the Republican party in our country.

"So I ask you, my supporters that have worked so hard and so many people have worked very diligently, to join me in supporting Chris Murphy."

Outside the Canoe Club, her family waiting silently beside her and only the sound of crickets in the air, Bysiewicz spoke to an NBC Connecticut reporter, politely obliging a question about her defeat.

"Well, you know what? I'm very proud to be supporting Chris Murphy," Bysiewicz said, her arms crossed across her chest, struggling to maintain a smile.

Questioned about what her plans are for the future, Bysiewicz was quick to respond. "Ask me that tomorrow," she said, composed, her hoarse voice cracking.

Bysiewicz was Secretary of the State from 1999 to 2011. In 2010 and 2006, she ran for governor, before dropping out to run for Connecticut Attorney General. From 1993-96 she was a representative for the 100th Congressional District.

At the July 31 debate in New London, Bysiewicz said she considers Murphy to be “cozy” with Wall Street interests and that he has voted against tax cuts and other benefits for the middle class. She suggested that such actions may have been influenced by the funding and that this was what differentiated the funds donated to Murphy from similar contributions to her own campaign. 

“Yes, I’ve taken some money from folks who work on Wall Street,” she said. “But they took the money knowing that I’d like to go to Washington to close the hedge fund loophole.”

At an April debate at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Bysiewicz said she was a supporter of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama's signature health care legislation. 

"Everyone in America deserves access to quality, affordable health care," Bysiewicz said. "…There are many people who are just one very bad test result away from getting very sick and losing their home or losing all of their financial wealth."