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RUSSO ANNOUNCES CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN TEAM

Fairfield, CT - Rob Russo today announced his latest additions to Team Russo, who will assist him in his efforts to win the 4^th Congressional seat of Connecticut. Matt Wylie and Alicia Preston (see bios below) have a broad and complimentary background in senior strategy and communications and will assist Rob in his efforts to bring Congress back to the people in November.

"I am very excited to have Matt and Alicia join my team. They will be working very closely with me, my brother Chris, and the great people of the 4^th District to make sure this seat is returned to the public's interest," Russo said. "We have great challenges before us and Congressman Himes has demonstrated he does not have the ability or will to provide the best representation. I look forward to working with my team to get our message of fiscal common sense, job creation and true representation out to the citizens of Connecticut.

Matt Wylie, lives in the 4^th Congressional District of Connecticut and has a strong background in federal races and knowledge of the area. "I am very excited to be working in my own backyard. This doesn't always happen. Here, I have a personal interest in what happens because the winner of this race will be my Congressman. Rob Russo is the best person for this job and I am thrilled to be working with him," Wylie said.

Team Russo's Newest Members:

Matt Wylie, Wylie Strategy Group: Matt Wylie is a Chief Strategist and an expert in developing and implementing successful campaign strategies. Formed in 2006, WSG has provided strategic consulting for both statewide and Congressional races in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
Formerly, he managed highly competitive political campaigns across the country - U.S. Senate races in Alaska and Georgia and Congressional races in Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. Wylie has also served as Political Director of races in Virginia and for John Ashcroft's 2000 US Senate race, and served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Republican Party. Matt resides in Bridgeport, Ct.

Alicia Preston, The PReston Group: Alicia is a Communications Specialist who has worked throughout the country assisting with press and overall communication needs for campaigns, organizations, corporations and non-profits. Most recently, Alicia assisted on the Scott Brown campaign in Massachusetts. Prior to starting The PReston Group in 2006, Alicia's experience includes: National Press Secretary for NY Governor George Pataki's PAC; Media Relations Director for Meridian Communications, Communications Director for NH Governor Craig Benson. Alicia spent ten years as a reporter in NH (print, radio and TV) covering primarily the political scene and Statehouse news. Alicia is based in Hampton, NH.

Media interested in speaking to Rob, please contact Alicia at the email or phone number listed above.

Rob Russo Comments on President

Obama's Health Care Speech

"Despite the Presidents words today, Jim Himes knows that the people have soundly rejected this legislation. So the question is will Jim Himes side with his party or with the people of Connecticut? Voters have rejected this plan and he needs to stand up against Nancy Pelosi and vote no. The people do not want 2.5 trillion dollars of spending for a massive government bureaucracy that will put generations into debt, increase taxes and do nothing to improve the health care delivery system. This is nothing more than a cost shift from the consumer to the taxpayer. The fact that the President and Congress want to shove this down our throats in two weeks is outrageous. We need to scrap this bill and start again with solutions the people actually want and need."

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New CT-4 Poll Results

New Poll Results for CT-4
Himes Weak Heading into November Election

Fairfield - Today, the Russo for Congress campaign released the results of a poll conducted on February 3rd and 4th.

"Voters in Connecticut are rejecting Jim Himes' tax-and-spend votes with Nancy Pelosi." Rob Russo said in response to the results of the poll. "I am the Republican in the strongest position to defeat Jim Himes."

Overall Poll Summary:

Jim Himes is in a weak position heading into the November elections as best evidenced by his 36% job approval rating. Voters are clearly angry at Congress and the direction the country is headed. Voters want an alternative.

The race for the Republican nomination is wide open with Rob Russo currently polling strongest against Jim Himes. While neither Dan Debicella nor Rob Russo have high Name ID throughout the district, it is clear Rob Russo has the stronger foundation on which to continue building.

Key Poll Findings:

·      74% of the people in the district disapprove of the job that Congress is doing.

·      The Economy and Taxes-and-Spending are the top two issues that are affecting the vote for Congress.

·      Only 35% of the people surveyed believe that Jim Himes should be re-elected

·      Equal amount of people approve of Jim Himes job in Congress as disapprove (Approve 36%, Disapprove 33%)

·      In a head-to-head match-up against Rob Russo, Jim Himes only has a 13-point advantage and does not break 50%. (Himes 43%, Russo 30%)

·      Rob Russo has higher Name ID and performs better against Jim Himes than Dan Debicella showing the Republican Primary is wide open. (Russo name ID 23%, Debicella 14%)

Western Wats conducted the poll on behalf of the Russo for Congress campaign. Western Wats has done extensive polling for candidates in Connecticut at the local level including most recently, Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst's successful campaign.

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HIMES' DIRTY MONEY
Russo to Himes: Return the Rangel Money

Fairfield, CT - Demonstrating that all press is not assuredly good press, The Washington Examiner yesterday spotlighted CT. Congressman Jim Himes in Mark Hemingway's "Dirty Money Watch." <http://www. washingtonexaminer.com/ opinion/columns/dirty-money/ Rep_-Jim-Himes_-D-Conn_- 84976292.html> The topic? Congressman Jim Himes has received $16,000 in campaign donations from New York Congressman Charlie Rangel's National Leadership PACand Congressional Campaign.

"This kind of sleazy pay-to-play politics is exactly why only 10% of the country think Congress is doing a good job," said Rob Russo, Candidate for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District. "You can't campaign on ethics, pretend it's an issue for you and then take $16 thousand dollars from a man who has severe ethics problems of his own. The people of the 4th District deserve more. Congressman Himes must return this dirty money."

Congressman Rangel has been embroiled in an ethics investigation surrounding his failure to report or pay income taxes on properties in New York and the Dominican Republic, securing ear marks for a building in NY to be named for Rangel and using official office staff and stationary to solicit political contributions.

Congressman Himes' hypocrisy doesn't end with his refusal to return the Rangel Money. In October, Himes voted against removing Congressman Rangel from his powerful position as House Ways and Means Chairman while an ethics panel continued to investigate the allegations against him.

Oddly enough, just three months after voting to keep him, he told the Connecticut Post that Charlie Rangel should not be in his position. '"There is a willingness in Congress to tolerate the intolerable,' noting that U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), should have been asked to step aside during his ethics probe.' Himes faces tough crowd in New Canaan <http://www.ctpost.com/local/ article/Himes-faces-tough- crowd-in-New-Canaan-315921.php > , By James Lomuscio, Correspondent, Saturday, January 9, 2010.

"More double speak from a Washington politician is not going to help the people of the 4th District get through these tough economic times. It's not going to give us jobs. If we can't trust that they are listening to their own words, how can we trust they are listening to ours when we demand cuts in spending, health care reform without a public option, reduced regulation and tax burden on small businesses. We need leaders who are willing to make tough decisions, and we need to end the practice of Congress being more accountable to itself than to the people," said Russo.

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Himes Votes to Increase National Debt by $1.9 TRILLION

Jim Himes Votes to Increase National Debt by $1.9 TRILLION
37 Democrats vote for Fiscal Responsibility but not Jim Himes

Fairfield - Jim Himes voted today to allow the government to go $1.9 TRILLION deeper into debt over the next year. Thirty-seven Democrats voted against raising the debt ceiling, but Jim Himes voted with Speaker Pelosi, thus continuing his record of voting in lockstep with his party’s leadership.

The $1.9 TRILLION increase is equal to about $6,000 for every Connecticut resident. The $1.9 TRILLION increase will allow the national debt to balloon to $14.3 TRILLION.

Despite President Obama’s recent warnings about the debt, this Congress led by Speaker Pelosi and followed by Jim Himes is continuing its spending spree.

“We will never be able to create jobs or grow the economy with the mounting debt.” said Rob Russo. “I am running to bring fiscal sanity to Washington. When times get tough, families across Connecticut tighten their belts and control spending and that is exactly what Congress needs to do.”

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