U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy stopped in Milford and other communities in Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District Sunday to accept endorsements from mayors and state legislators for his bid for the Democratic nomination for the Senate.

Murphy, currently the 5th District congressman, and former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz are vying to be the Democratic Party’s candidate to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, who is retiring.

World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon and former 4th District Congressman Christopher Shays are in a contest for the Republican nomination to run for the seat.

In Milford, Murphy received the endorsement of Mayor Ben Blake, then continued to Hamden where he was endorsed by Mayor Scott Jackson. Earlier in the afternoon, he stopped in New Haven at the home of 3rd District U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro where he received endorsements from several state legislators.

The Milford gathering at the home of state Sen. Gayle Slossberg was attended by about 60 prominent Democrats from Milford, Orange, Woodbridge and other nearby towns.

Murphy said this election would be about whether there would be a "vibrant, productive" middle class, or if the country would end up as a nation "with 5 percent haves and 95 percent have-nots." It would also be about the role of government in achieving it.

He criticized the Republicans for wanting to privatize Social Security and Medicare, something he said he "shudders" to think about.

Murphy said he anticipated that McMahon would use her personal wealth to get the Republican nomination and then attempt to use it to win the election. He said he was sure McMahon would outspend him and was counting on Democrats like those in Milford to work hard to win Connecticut’s senate seat and keep her from "buying" it.

Former Milford Democratic Town Committee Chairman Kevin McGrath said he thought the turnout at Slossberg’s house was good considering it took place at the same time the New England Patriots were playing for the AFC Championship on television.

Blake said he met Murphy a decade ago when they worked together on a healthcare initiative, Murphy as the chairman of the Public Health and Safety Committee and Blake the clerk for the House majority office.