Shays’ Seat Main Connecticut Battleground

BANTAM, Conn. — During the 2006 midterm elections, Connecticut was one of the most fiercely contested states in the battle for the House, with three of its five seats in the Democratic cross hairs. But now — 16 months after Democrats Joe Courtney and Christopher Murphy ousted then-GOP Reps. Rob Simmons and Nancy Johnson and GOP Rep. Christopher Shays held off a stiff challenge for the second consecutive cycle — the Nutmeg State has lost much of its luster as a campaign hot spot for 2008.