Connecticut newspaper The Day comes out with a strong endorsement of the way the state's new Clean Elections program has changed campaigning, and candidates, in this year's election.  Praising the reduced emphasis on fundraising and potential to see many more competitive races, the paper says Clean Elections is off to a great start.

The New Hampshire commission formed this summer to put together a proposal for full public financing of campaigns for the state has been working away and this article gives an update on where the proposal stands.  Right now they're focusing in getting data on the cost of campaigning so they can make recommendations on the amount of funding candidates receive, and where that funding should come from.

Connecticut's new Clean Elections program is having a positive effect on the number of women candidates who have chosen to seek office so the Secretary of State is calling 2008 the Year of the Woman. One hundred and two women will seek a seat in the General Assembly this year, more than any previous year.

In the arena of electoral reform Connecticut is continuing to take steps in the right direction. Connecticut Common Cause has issued a new report examining the successes of the state’s new Citizen’s Election Program. Their conclusion: the system is strong.

This article in the Connecticut Post examines the money being raised in the battle for the House seat in the 4th district.  Incumbent Chris Shays (R) is facing Democratic challenger Jim Himes and both men are taking in huge sums of money from Wall Street heavyweights.  This big money war for a seat in Congress is a sharp contrast to what's going on with races for Connecticut's state legislature this year, where most candidates are participating in the new Clean Elections public financing program.

Clean Elections got its share of attention over the last few days. The primary elections in Connecticut that saw both a higher number of contested races and a high participation from Clean Elections candidates drew this story in the New York Times about the new system that includes perspectives from several state lawmakers. Stories popped up this weekend in New Jersey and Wisconsin as well.