National parties pour money into 5th District race

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — National parties are pouring money into the hotly contested race for Connecticut's open Congressional seat, in which advertisements for Republican state Sen. Andrew Roraback and Democrat Elizabeth Esty are slamming one another over issues related to senior citizens.

National Democrats so far have spent more than $500,000 on television ads. They are investing far more than Republicans as they try to hold the seat in northwestern Connecticut being vacated by three-term Rep. Chris Murphy, who's running for U.S. Senate.

This week the National Republican Campaign Committee entered the fray by spending $75,000 on a television commercial to support Roraback, who has lagged behind Esty in fundraising. National Republicans also brought in House Speaker John Boehner to headline a Roraback fundraiser Tuesday in Hartford.