"Donald Trump lost me a long time ago."
Chris Shays
Two of Connecticut's more conservative voices formerly in Congress announced on Wednesday that they will vote for Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Former Rep. Chris Shays is a Republican who represented Connecticut's fourth congressional district until 2009, when he lost to current Democratic Rep. Jim Himes. In the 2016 Republican presidential primary, he campaigned with Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
"He was my first choice, my second choice, my third choice," Shays said of Kasich on MSNBC's Morning Joe. But his next choice is Clinton.
"Donald Trump lost me a long time ago," said Shays. "He does and says everything my mom and dad taught me never to say and do. He doesn't understand the basic requirements of being President of the United States and frankly, he's dangerous."
Back in June, Shays told the Hartford Courant he would not vote for Trump. "I'm not drinking the Kool Aid. I am open to all other options," he said.
Watch Shays make his announcement:
"[Clinton] will start with a credibility and familiarity with our allies around the world."
Joe Lieberman
Meanwhile, former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman announced he is also supporting Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Eight years ago, he supported the Republican presidential nominee John McCain. That endorsement came after Lieberman lost the Democratic primary to liberal candidate Ned Lamont in 2006. Lieberman went on to win re-election as an independent candidate.
He spoke highly of Clinton's foreign policy experience on FOX Business Network's Mornings with Maria.
"She will start with a credibility and familiarity with our allies around the world," said Lieberman.
Sen. Chris Murphy, who replaced Lieberman in the U.S. Senate, renewed his criticism of Trump on Tuesday. The Republican nominee told supporters at a rally in North Carolina that Clinton wants to abolish the Second Amendment.
"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks," said Trump. "Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is. I don't know."
Murphy has frequently been critical of Trump's stance on guns.
Don't treat this as a political misstep. It's an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy & crisis.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
Trump's campaign says his comments were misinterpreted. "It's called the power of unification — 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power," said spokesman Jason Miller.
All seven members of Connecticut's congressional delegation endorsed Clinton for president last year.
