Chris Shays is a respected moderate Republican who has been described by National Journal as "a pivotal Republican in the House...a pleasant man with a stubborn streak and considerable legislative savvy...when he feels strongly, he will risk everything". He has publicly disagreed with his party on campaign finance reform (which National Journal has described as 'Shay's great cause'); abortion; gun control; arts subsidies; gay rights; the minimum wage; defencespending; and Census sampling. Yet he is one of the most vulnerable incumbents on the GOP side.The Fourth Congressional District of Connecticut is "the wealthiest district in the nation's wealthiest state". It extends from the outskirts of New York City along the coast of Long Island Sound. It extends inland covering the south west corner of Connecticut. Its major cities are Bridgeport (139,529); Stamford (117,083) and Norwalk (82,951). The current troubles on the financial markets will hit this area hard with many working in Wall Street living in the district and Greenwich is a centre for the hedge fund industry.
Chris Shay's website is http://www.shaysforcongress.org/. His opponent from the Democrats is Jim Himes, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker. He is currently the Vice President of a community 'affordable housing' organisation. His website is http://himesforcongress.com/ .
District newspapers include The Connecticut Post - http://www.connpost.com/; Greenwich Time - http://www.greenwichtime.com/; The Advocate (Stamford) http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/.
