McCain Stumps for ‘Independent’ Republicans
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Senator McCain of Arizona campaigned in Connecticut yesterday for two self-described “independent” Republican congressmen to blunt accusations by Democrats that Reps. Christopher Shays and Rob Simmons toe the party line.
Mr. McCain, known for taking stances that conflict with Republican leaders, said Mr. Simmons and Mr. Shays, of the state’s 2nd and 4th congressional districts respectively, are not afraid to do the same.
He credited the two congressmen for standing with him on issues that many in the GOP oppose, such as campaign finance reform and stem cell research.
Both Mr. Simmons and Mr. Shays are in tough re-election battles this year. The two were targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as Republican incumbents with the potential to be defeated.