The Republicans have only 37 members in the state House of Representatives, and they are fighting this fall for every seat they can get.
So it is a bit unusual that one of the 37 - state Rep. John B. Rigby of Winsted - has left the campaign trail near the height of the election season for a chance to work in Afghanistan. Rigby, a University of Connecticut graduate who is a freshman lawmaker, was hired as a civilian contractor for a somewhat-secret mission on a military base to make sure that the aircraft keep flying above the difficult terrain in the country.
During an interview over his Nokia cell phone that he purchased in Afghanistan, Rigby said he is living in a tent near a runway where the planes can take off at all hours of the night. It's kind of like sleeping outdoors near the runway of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
But Rigby is getting accustomed to his surroundings, even though an interview was interrupted by a loud F-18 fighter plane taking off.
Rigby did not have an exact date of his return from his month-long assignment, but he is hoping to be home soon to hit the campaign trail in the seven-town district that borders Massachusetts. His district stretches from Hartland on the east to Canaan and North Canaan on the west.
"When I ran the first time, I relied mostly on knocking on doors,'' said Rigby, whose Litchfield County district is one of the most rural in the state. "Now, my time has been cut short. I need to get home so I can go door-to-door.''
Despite being half a world away, Rigby still receives e-mails from his constituents, and he is able to respond from Afghanistan.
Rigby, 41, has not yet arranged a debate with his opponent, Democrat William Riiska, but three high schools in the district have offered to be the host. Riiska, an attorney, said Rigby's absence had not had a major impact on the race.
"It's not something that I'm noticing,'' Riiska said.
Rigby defeated Riiska two years ago in his first race for the state legislature, and they are now battling in a rematch.
As a defense contractor, Rigby cannot reveal the name of the company he is working for. He also cannot reveal his precise location, such as how many miles he is from the city of Kabul. He is involved in logistics and support in the effort to keep the planes in the air.
He did not plan on leaving during the campaign, but he could not set the timing of the assignment.
"I put my name into this database of available contractors,'' Rigby said. "The need was now.''
Within the confines of a military base, Rigby is not particularly concerned about security.
"The conditions over here are pretty decent,'' he said. "I'm in a tent, but I've got my own private sleeping area. ... I'm inside the protected perimeter. The danger comes if you venture out into the countryside. Every night or two, there's a warning that there's a potential rocket attack. So far, they've been false alarms.''
Concerning the terrain, Rigby said, "It reminds me of parts of Colorado - high desert. There's no trees. At night, it's pretty chillly - down in the 40s.''
Patrick O'Neil, a spokesman for the House Republicans, said that no other members of the House caucus have had similar assignments overseas.
"It's not exactly the garden spot of the world,'' O'Neil told Capitol Watch. "August turned out to be the deadliest month for coalition soldiers. ... I spoke with him before he left. He's doing what he needs to do. He'll be back to campaign.''
The money that Rigby receives from the Afghanistan assignment will help him in an ongoing dispute with a mortgage company that is foreclosing on a loan of more than $350,000 on Rigby's house.
"He's working to resolve it,'' O'Neil said. "That's one of the reasons he's in Afghanistan. It's worth going there in the middle of the campaign season.''
Riiska said that Rigby's situation demonstrates the need to improve the state's economic climate and close the projected $3.4 billion budget deficit.
"Many people are in that same boat,'' Riiska said. "It's a sign of the precise, broader issues, and it's why we need a dose of fiscal responsibility in Hartford.''
Rigby's wife and two young children are awaiting his return, and his 10-year-old daughter is too young to undertand all of the details.
"She understands I'm in a place where there are American soldiers, and I'm safe,'' Rigby said.