U.S. House members who are trying to make the step up to the Senate this year are finding themselves on the defensive about Washington experience that traditionally has been a big asset.

U.S. House members who are trying to make the step up to the Senate this year are finding themselves on the defensive about Washington experience that traditionally has been a big asset.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy spent his first official debate of the Senate primary, hosted in Westport, arguing opponent Susan Bysiewicz can talk about her goals if elected to Congress, but he has spent six years hard at work in Washington, D.C. "As you can see, there's not a lot of difference between us on this issue," Murphy said Wednesday about the two Democrats ' support for extending college student loan rates and other efforts to reduce the costs of higher education.

As expected, zillionaire pro-wrestling mogul Linda McMahon handily beat ex-Rep. Chris Shays at the statewide GOP convention this past weekend, earning 60.

Christopher Shays, primary opponent of Linda McMahon, the Republican endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate, said Sunday that he would welcome the support of ex-Gov. John Rowland.