Republican Rep. Christopher Shays ended the third quarter with a slight cash advantage over Greenwich Democrat Jim Himes, who is seeking Shays’ 4th Congressional District seat, according to campaign finance reports.
Shays, R-Conn., had $593,791 as of Sept. 30, while Himes had $546,699, according to their filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Shays, who has represented his southwestern Connecticut district since 1987, raised more money during the quarter, $360,307 compared with $259,727 for Himes.
Shays, who has survived fierce challenges in recent years, has been preparing for another tough re-election fight in 2008.
His support for the Iraq war nearly cost him re-election last fall in a southwestern Connecticut district where anti-war sentiment runs strong. He was the only House Republican from New England to keep his seat as Democrats swept to power.
Shays defeated Diane Farrell of Westport in a November 2006 rematch of their 2004 contest, which Shays narrowly won. Farrell made Shays’ support of the Iraq war the focus of her 2006 campaign. Their battle was one of the most expensive in the nation.
Iraq has already emerged as a campaign issue this time around.
Himes, like Farrell, has criticized Shays’ Iraq war views while tackling other issues such as health care reform and energy independence.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ran radio ads over the summer criticizing Shays on Iraq and veterans issues.
“This is definitely a top-tier race and a good pickup opportunity for Democrats,” said Carrie James, a DCCC spokeswoman.
James said Himes raised $350,000 during the second quarter, more than any other Democratic or Republican congressional challenger across the country in those three months.
Shays campaign manager Michael Sohn said the congressman was happy with his campaign cash totals.
“We’re right on track and where we want to be,” Sohn said. “The focus for Christopher is his work in Congress. There will be a time and a place for the campaign.”
Himes is chairman of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee and worked as a banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co. before entering the nonprofit field. He is a vice president at Enterprise Community Partners, a national provider of money and expertise for affordable housing and community development projects.
Shays split with Bush on Iraq earlier this year when he said he favors a December 2008 timetable for withdrawing most U.S. forces. It was the first time Shays had offered a specific timeline. Previously, he urged Bush to come up with a timeline for pulling out troops.
Initially one of Congress’ strongest war backers, Shays said during the 2006 fall election that U.S. policies weren’t working.
Democrat Lee Whitnum of Greenwich has also filed with the FEC to run for Shays’ seat.
