Christopher Coutu to Explore Bid for Congress.

Why not?  If Kirstie Alley can place a strong second on the opening night of Dancing With the Stars, Norwich Republican state Representative Christopher Coutu can explore a run for Congress in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.  The seat is currently held by 3rd term Democratic incumbent Joseph Courtney, who declined to make bid for Connecticut’s open United States Senate seat. Courtney did not want to get Hodesed.  The Vernon Democrat was shaken by the fate of his House colleague from New Hampshire, Paul Hodes, who regrets giving up his seat in Congress to get clobbered last fall by Republican Kelly Ayotte in the Granite State’s Senate contest.

Coutu, 34, is in his 2nd term in the state legislature, where he represents Norwich, Sprague, Canterbury, and Scotland.  He works in accounting and is a lieutenant in the Army National Guard. He made considerable news in January when he was sworn-in to a new term in the legislature long distance while with his newborn baby in Boston.  That baby has inspired her father to explore his bid for Congress, he told Daily Ructions this morning.  He looks at her and asks, “How could you not consider running?”

The Norwich Republican says he’s raised $10,000 since he began “testing the waters” last week.