Johnson may not make a 12th term in Congress

by Christine Moyer

WASHINGTON - Connecticut Democrats are looking for a candidate to challenge Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.), who will be running for reelection in 2004 after 22 years in office.

Although she would not name names, Leslie O'Brien, executive director of the Connecticut Democratic Party, said several Democrats have met with party leaders and that she expects to have a few potential candidates lined up in the coming weeks.

"Several Democrats have discussed the possibility of running in the 2004 House election, but they have not currently filed the necessary paperwork," O'Brien said Tuesday. "The district, number-wise, is a Democratic district. Any solid Democrat who runs a tough campaign will offer Nancy Johnson competition."

One Democrat who is strongly considering entering the race is Bob Marconi, a city council member in Brookfield, according to a Democratic source who asked not to be identified.

As of last year, Johnson's district contained 368, 825 registered voters, including 112,545 Democrats and 95,907 Republicans, according to O'Brien.

Greg Speed, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), said Johnson has a financial edge.

A member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Johnson has amassed contributions of $505,360 for her 2004 campaign. The largest chunk, $93,399, came from health-care professionals, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, an independent watchdog group that monitors campaign money.

Brian Schubert, Johnson's press secretary, said he wouldn't comment on "an election that's 13 months away."

In 2002, Johnson defeated a fellow incumbent, Democrat Jim Maloney, after their two districts were combined.

"Jim had the misfortune of being paired with Johnson in a good Republican year," Speed said. Johnson won 54 percent of the vote to Maloney's 43 percent.

Connecticut's political terrain could change more dramatically if Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman wins the presidential election. Lieberman, one of nine candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, ran for reelection in 2000 even as he was his party's vice presidential nominee.

If Lieberman were elected president, Gov. Rowland, a Republican, would appoint someone to fill his Senate seat.

Asked if Johnson would be interested in the Senate seat, Schubert demurred. Talk of a Senate vacancy, he said, is "pure speculation at this point. Nancy's focused on her agenda in the House."