Democratic sweep being analyzed

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- The Democratic sweep delivered by voters on Tuesday in Connecticut is being interpreted several ways.

In local legislative races, Republicans attempted to make the election a referendum on Governor Malloy and last year's big tax hikes.

"They chose a strategy and it's quite clear what that strategy was," Malloy said.

However, Democrats maintained their 99 to 52 huge majority in the House, and their 22 to 14 majority in the State Senate. Did the strategy backfire on the Republicans?

"Unfortunately we were unable to overcome the storm of the national tidal wave," said Sen. John McKinney. "Barack Obama won by 20 points in the state of Connecticut, Chris Murphy won by a much larger than expected margin."

Others place the blame squarely on Linda McMahon.

"Linda McMahon brought everybody down with her and we've lost the chance to win two senate seats," said former Congressman Chris Shays, "it's just as sad as it can be."

Shays is the former Republican Congressman who lost the primary to McMahon in August.

He says McMahon dazzled state Republican Party officials by spreading a lot of money around to town committees, shutting out anyone that opposed her.

"She could buy the party, she could buy a primary," Shays said, "but she couldn't buy a general election and shame on them."

The Governor says Democrats were rewarded because they were willing to make tough decisions, even about tax hikes, when it was necessary to bail out state government.

"What I want Democrats to understand is, what is the lesson, and that is that every day let's do our job, regardless of what our fears are because we are sent here to Hartford to do that job," Malloy said.