The Eye

"I am running for Congress with a responsible economic plan," said Bernier. "During this campaign, I will offer a clear path of action - not vague promises. And I will talk about economic reality - not wishful thinking."

Daly told the Norwich Daily his focus will be "bringing efficient, effective governance to Congress, restoring core values and sound economic policies."

In making a run against Murphy, Bernier is following in the footsteps of his one-time boss, former Republican Rep. Rob Simmons, who recently announced he was challenging Dodd in 2010. Bernier was a senior legislative assistant in Simmons congressional office for two years. He then went on to serve in Aghanistan as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve.

But while Dodd is clearly ripe for a challenge -- a recent poll showed him in a statistical tie with Simmons -- it's not clear that Murphy or Courtney are all that vulnerable. Both came to the House by upsetting Republicans in 2006 (it was Courtney who sent Simmons packing, in fact), but in 2008 Murphy defeated Republican David J. Cappiello by nearly 20 percent in 2008 and Courtney defeated Republican Sean Sullivan by 33 percent.

Murphy's district is the most Republican-leaning in the state -- though it went for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry and George W. Bush tied among voters in 2004 and Bush took the district in 2000. If anti-incumbent sentiment is high by 2010 and Bernier can win over the all-important independent voters, he could have a shot in the 5th District.

Daly is not among the top Republican recruits for the 2nd District, and several other local Republicans are eyeing that race, as well as freshman Democratic Rep. Jim Himes' seat in Connecticut's 4th District.