Democratic congressional candidate and State Sen. Chris Murphy was in Lakeville over the weekend. Late Saturday afternoon, he strolled down Bostwick Street knocking on doors and giving his spiel to anyone who would listen.

[In the photo at left, he is seen pressing the flesh with Craig Davis]

Accompanied by his young field coordinator, a couple of local supporters and Al Ginouves, who chairs the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee, Murphy was determined to meet as many people as he could and spread the word that incumbent Republican Nancy Johnson, who has served 14 terms representing the Northwest Corner in Washington, should be sent packing. It’s hard to disagree with him.

“The votes out here add up,” Murphy told me. “It’s old fashioned but it still works.”

As for how his campaign is fairing heading toward the Nov. 7 election, Murphy declined to release the results of his internal polls, but suggested they give Johnson a small lead.

“Nancy Johnson’s foolish deceitful ads have cost her votes,” Murphy said as he prepared to shake Davis’ hand. “We’re thrilled with where we are.”

One of Johnson’s ads in particular was indeed highly misleading. Click here to read my analysis. But more importantly, if you think Washington is broken, that one-party rule stinks, and that the Republicans have screwed up in a major way (and I do), then you would have to conclude that as an entrenched incumbent Johnson is part of the problem.

To be fair, she has done some good things for the 5th district and for the state. And there is no one better at constituent services. I recall in the 1990s during the federal government shutdown that my wife and I contacted her office in an attempt to finalize my son’s citizenship with the INS before his visa expired. Within days we got a call from Johnson’s office and the process was expedited. I am still grateful for her help. Would Murphy be as responsive? I don’t know, but I might be willing to take the chance.

Murphy is correct that Johnson sides too often with the healthcare and insurance industries and that she takes a lot of money from them. But those two industries are enormously important to the economy of our state. If he is elected, Murphy will likely have his door knocked on by the same people. Will he promise to resist their entreaties?

It will be hard for Murphy to pull off a win, but he has a few things working in his favor: an anti-incumbent sentiment across the country; an unpopular war (supported by Johnson) that seems to grow worse every day; and a couple of major pratfalls Johnson has suffered during her long career but that are still in the memories of many of her constituents.

I recall, for example, when in 1997 as chair of the House Ethics Committee, Johnson did her best to drag her feet on the investigation of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich. And she has since voted to weaken House ethics rules.

A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Johnson spokesman Brian Schubert, a gifted spinmeister, and asked him twice to explain why his boss voted for a prescription drug bill that prohibited the federal government from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices. On both occasions he avoided the question, opting instead to recite some talking points about how much money the plan has saved the average senior.

Back to the homefront: On Sunday, Murphy appeared at a private fundraiser for his candidacy at the home of David and Bobbie Olsen on Selleck Hill. Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, were there.

According to attendees, Dukakis said one of the greatest mistakes of his ill-fated run for the presidency in 1988 was his failure to answer negative ads run by his opponent, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, and by Bush’s supporters.

Murphy said he would not make the same mistake. He also spoke about healthcare and how the disastrous war in Iraq has been a costly distraction from the war against terrorism.

I don’t know about you, but he’s speaking my language. Keep knocking on those doors and come back soon.

Local Notable Republicans In Town, Too

There was work to do at last night’s meeting of the Salisbury Republican Town Committee. I attended as a journalist and, no, contrary to popular belief, I am not a registered Republican.

GOP candidates Laurence Kurland (probate judge) and Nancy Sieller (running against incumbent Dem Roberta Willis for the 64th state rep seat) were present, as was Chris Zavagnin of the Johnson campaign.

Morale among the committeee members did not appear particularly high — and for good reason. While hopes are high for retaining the governorship, the state senate seat of Andrew Roraback and Johnson’s seat, the committee itself is a shell of its former self.

Chairman Doug Richardson announced the resignations of Dean Hammond and John Bartram, leaving the panel with only 14 members. I believe the typical number is 23. Doug, if you’re reading this you might want to confirm that for me.

Committee member Shirley Hurley raised the question of whether Alfred Nemiroff and Gary and Vivian Nasiatka might be persuaded to return to the committee. Those three conservative members resigned shortly after last fall’s municipal elections, when the liberal-to-moderate faction gained control of the committee after a rancorous and public idealogical battle.

Richardson replied that any registered Republican is welcome to come to the meetings and make his/her availability known. Hurley said she had spoken to Nemiroff, who had indicated he might be interested. Could a reconciliation be in the offing? Time will tell.

Out of its $1,300 treasury, the committee also voted to donate $500 ($350 to Sieller and $150 to Kurland) to GOP candidates for state office. There was little sentiment for giving to Gov. Jodi Rell or Roraback, as they appear to be comfortably ahead. And almost no one wanted to give a dime to the campaign of Alan Schlesinger, the Republican candidate for U.S. senate who appears uncomfortably behind, although they indicated a gift was a possibility after a committee fundraiser next month.

And it is worth noting that no one even broached the possibility of giving to the independent campaign of Joe Lieberman. But who will most of the committee members vote for in November? Schlesinger, Lamont, Joe? I think I know the answer.