Primary day underway in CT

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's Primary Day in Connecticut and the voting is underway in the Democratic and Republican Primaries around the state until 8 p.m. tonight.

It will determine the final match-ups for the November election for the US Senate seat being vacated by Senator Joe Lieberman, and that red hot race in the 5th Congressional District.

Statewide both parties have the run-off for that US Senate battle. It pits 5th District Congressman Chris Murphy, the party convention endorsed candidate against former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.

On the Republican side; former WWE/CEO Linda McMahon, who lost to Senator Dick Blumenthal in the final election two years ago, is being challenged for the Republican nomination by former 4th District Congressman Chris Shays.

There is a free for all battle going on in both parties for the open congressional seat being vacated by Murphy among a total of seven candidates.

Six months ago, most political watchers were saying that Connecticut House Speaker Chris Donovan of Meriden would easily win a Democratic Primary with the strong support of most of the labor unions getting out the vote.

However, when Richard Braddock, a top aid to the Donovan campaign was arrested by the feds for alleged illegal fundraising back in May, the entire equation of the primary changed.

Political newcomer Dan Roberti said Donovan should drop out because the cloud of the investigation would hurt the Democrats' chances in November.

Roberti has lent his campaign thousands airing commercials to discredit Donovan.

And former Cheshire State Rep. Elizabeth Esty has also lent her campaign thousands and Tuesday night, most observers are saying the three are in a dead heat.

On the Republican side, longtime State Senator Andrew Roraback of Goshen got the party convention endorsement, but is opposed by three challengers: two of whom are millionaires spending thousands on TV commercials.

Real Estate tycoon Mark Greenberg is running as a conservative ideological purist and has bankrolled much of his campaign.

However, the Republicans have their own scandal in the person of Lisa Wilson Foley. She is also bankrolling much of her campaign. The feds are investigating her campaign's links to former Governor turned talk show host John Rowland for allegedly working on her campaign while receiving monthly payments from a business owned by Wilson Foley's husband.

It is also believed these three are in a tight race.

A fourth candidate, Justin Bernier, is the only one that has not had enough campaign cash to promote himself on broadcast television.

And there is also a Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District between East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica and challenger Daria Novak of Madison. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Congressman Joe Courtney.

There are also a number of spirited local races, including for a State Senate seat in Bridgeport where former State Senator Ernie Newton, who spent four years in federal prison for corruption, is attempting to win back his old seat.