chris shays (R-CT) endorses lieberman...

[Alcon]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

[Alcon]

Probably because Shays is one of the most endangered Republicans in the country. 

Its all about numbers...

True, he has steadily lost ground, and if some heavily Republican areas hadn't been added to his district (in which I live) after the 2000 census, when CT lost a congressional seat, he probably would have been defeated in 2004.

What areas were added?  They obviously weren't heavily Republican on the national level, wherever they are, since your area voted Kerry, if I ercall correctly.  I don't know much about the congressional adjustments in Connecticut.

Certain northern Fairfield County towns that voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 were added to Shays' district from the now-defunct former 5th district.  These towns are more heavily Republican, on average, than the rest of the district, since the district as a whole voted for Kerry, narrowly, IIRC.

This district epitomizes the old, but severely declining, brand of country club Republicanism, and Shays has to walk a tightrope to hold onto his seat.  We'll see what happens.  I really don't like his challenger, Diane Farrell.  She's a typical limousine liberal who was first selectman of a town full of obnoxious New York transplants.

Ah...I see.  The area around Oxford and Prospect in New Haven County would be the heavily Republican addition, I'm assuming?  Bush hovered around 60% in those parts.