4th District Congressman Jim Himes will not run for the senate seat in 2012 currently held by Senator Joe Lieberman.     During a taping of “Face the State with Dennis House,”  the recently re-elected freshman from Greenwich said his friend, 5th District  Congressman Chris Murphy is interested in running, and for that reason, he isn’t interested.      However,  Himes did leave the door ever so slightly open to a run, in the unlikely event Murphy decides not to. 

I tell you.. that is real friendship.    Senate seats don’t flip that often, especially in Connecticut.    Chris Dodd has held his seat for 30 years; Lieberman for 22.     Himes’ decision not to run means he is passing on an opportunity  that may not come his away again for many many years.     

Lieberman hasn’t announced his intentions yet, but Democrats have made it clear they want the seat out of his hands, even though the independent votes with Democrats most of the time.    In addition to Murphy, 2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney has said he is also considering the ’12 race.    Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is widely expected to run and Ted Kennedy, Junior is also raised by some as a potential candidate, although the conventional wisdom is he won’t run.    2006 nominee Ned Lamont said he is “disinclined” to run, and it is highly unlikely he will change his mind.

As for Republicans,  Linda McMahon hasn’t ruled out running in 2012,  and Rob Simmons hasn’t either.     Tom Foley’s name has also been thrown in the speculation ring as a possible candidate.  

Also during the interview with Congressman Himes, we talked about the controversy over extending the  Bush tax cuts, the DREAM Act, and much more.  

Tune in this Sunday at 11 for Face the State.