The field in this year’s Connecticut senate race is one of the biggest in decades, perhaps ever.    With an open seat, and no annointed successor to the nomination like we had in 2010 with Richard Blumenthal, the race has attracted several candidates.    This weekend on Face the State we are joined by one them, Democrat William Tong, state representative from Stamford.

Tong was a familiar face to viewers before he announced his candidacy in May on Face the State, a venue we welcome candidates to choose as the launching pad for their campaigns.   The son of Chinese immigrants was a representative for President Obama  appearing on Mr. Obama’s behalf here in our state during the 2008 presidential campaign.    Tong was a student of then Professor Obama at the University of Chicago in the 1990s. 

During our taping for Face the State this week, I asked Representative Tong about his strategy to defeat fellow Democrats Susan Bysiewicz and Chris Murphy in the battle for the nomination.   He lags behind the two in fundraising and endorsements, but argues he is a different kind of candidate with a compelling personal story of the living the American dream.   

Tong also talked about how he would vote on some issues, his call for debates with Bysiewicz and Murphy( so far one is scheduled, but there will undoubtedly be more,) and his friendship with Governor Malloy.  

Also on Sunday, look for Tong to make reference to “Tong Fever,”  courtesy of a whimsical Hartford Courant map that appeared in the paper last year.

You can watch the entire interview with Representative Tong this Sunday morning at 11, only on Channel 3.   UPDATE:  here is the interview that aired Sunday  http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6658686