The Cook Political Report has weighed in on the increasingly interesting battle between U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and Republican Dan Debicella in the Fourth Congressional District.
Himes, a Harvard graduate and Rhodes Scholar, captured the seat in 2008 in an upset against U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, who had held the district for the previous 21 years.
The Cook Report has changed the race from "Likely D to Lean D'' - meaning that Himes still has an advantage. But the race has been getting much more national attention, including being placed on the CNN Top 100 list of the most vulnerable U.S. House races. It was also cited recently by the National Journal as one of five "bellwether'' races to watch.
The outcome of the race could show which way the national winds are blowing. Himes won the battle in 2008 when a large number of Bridgeport Democrats came out to support candidate Barack Obama. Shays had won the previous two races in tough battles against Democrat Diane Farrell - after cruising to many previous victories that were often by large margins in the earlier years.
Historically, liberal Republicans have held the seat in lower Fairfield County, which includes the highly affluent towns of Greenwich, New Canaan, and Darien. Before Shays, U.S. Rep. Stewart McKinney led the district for 17 years. Before McKinney, the seat was held by Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. of Greenwich.