ItsHaky Going for Upset, Youth Vote by Eric Peterson

If Bo ItsHaky is going to knock off perennial election winner, Rosa DeLauro, he needs all the votes he can get, including the young crowd.

"I am very interested in the younger voters. They are the future of this district and this state," said ItsHaky. "I go after the youth vote as much as possible."

The 49 year-old Republican candidate is running for the third congressional district of Connecticut in the United States House or Representatives. His counterpart is Democratic incumbent, DeLauro, who is running for a tenth consecutive term.

For ItsHaky, grabbing the youth vote is more than just getting votes, its about changing the very fabric of Connecticut.

"My main concern is the brain drain, with young people who come here to acquire higher education and not able to be attracted to stay here," said ItsHaky. "I want to reverse that by finding more jobs in Connecticut and more affordable housing."

Originally born in Israel, ItsHaky now resides in Bethany and practices acupuncture in Orange and Cheshire. According to his campaign website, ItsHaky ran for First Selectman in Bethany in 2005 and ran for the Connecticut State Senate 17th District in 2006.

ItsHaky was elected to the Connecticut Republican State Central Committee in 2007, representing the 17th State Senatorial District.

Nevertheless, ItsHaky does not feel that going against the more experienced DeLauro will affect his campaign.

"It doesn't make it harder or easier. I am honored to run against her," said ItsHaky, who was influenced to go into politics after the terrorist attacks in Sept. 11. "I needed to do something on a much larger scale, make an influence on a larger scale."