ANSONIA — A three-term Democratic Congressman pitching a run for an open U.S. Senate seat next year told a group of Naugatuck Valley Democrats he was in the best position to beat a Republican candidate in 2012.

“The balance of power in the Senate is up for grabs and it may run right through the state of Connecticut,” said Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, during a political meet-and-greet at John J. Sullivan’s Restaurant. “We’ve got to make sure as a party we nominate the strongest candidate for this role and I believe I am far and away in the best position to win.”

Murphy entered the race for Senate in early 2011 just a few months after winning reelection to the 5^th District in a year when Democrats saw losses nationally. The Cheshire resident let the group of Valley voters know, by informing them that his district is the “most Republican-leaning” of all five Congressional districts in the state.

“A Republican running statewide not only has to win my district in order to prevail, they have to win it by 10 points,” Murphy told the crowd of residents from Naugatuck, Ansonia, Derby and Shelton. “That’s not going to happen if I’m on the ballot.”

He also touted his fundraising capabilities, saying he has raised more money than his Democratic opponents, former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and Stamford State Rep. William Tong.

Murphy’s current district includes a swath of towns and cities, stretching from Meriden to Danbury and up to the Farmington Valley. The 5^th District also encompasses a number of rural towns in the Northwest Corner.

The Naugatuck Valley, however, is a different animal altogether. Beleaguered by the loss of manufacturing, many Valley towns continue to suffer unemployment problems. According to recent state Department of Labor statistics, core Valley towns Naugatuck and Ansonia have unemployment rates that stand at 10.7 percent, Derby’s is 10.2 percent and Beacon Falls is at 9.5 percent — all of which are higher than the 9.2 percent unemployment rate statewide.

Seymour is at 9 percent unemployment, Shelton is at 8.4 percent and Oxford is at 7.2 percent.

Former U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon hasn’t yet declared her candidacy, however she is often cited by the news media as possibly seeking a run. Last week, former U.S. Rep Chris Shays said he plans to formally announce his entry into the Republican race in October, according to Hearst Media.

When asked about this, Murphy noted there weren’t yet “any major Republicans who have filed as candidates.”

“It looks like it’s going to take them a little while to sort out who their candidates is going to be,” Murphy said in an interview. “So, until they have a candidate, my focus is on introducing myself to the people of this state (and) obviously continuing to do the job that I have as a member of Congress in the 5^th District. And I will give the Republicans some wide berth as they go through what might be a long process.”

Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe let Murphy know the biggest issue was the lack of industry and the lack of jobs in the region. Murphy responded by citing an amendment he helped put through toward the federal Buy American Act. The amendment requires the U.S. State Department to purchase goods from American companies if those goods will be used here, according to The New Haven Register.

One audience member, Ansonia Democratic Alderman Jerome Fainer, asked Murphy whether there is any “light at the end of the tunnel” with the economy.

“I am an electrician, I’m taking a serious beating, and I don’t see the economy getting better in two, three four years,” Fainer said.

Murphy responded that Congressional Republicans were in a “fantasy land” in which they think downsizing federal spending is going to create jobs.

“There’s no economist that agrees with that premise,” he said. “If you want to create jobs today you will have to actually make some investments. That means spending some money in the right places in our economy.”

Reached for comment following the event, Fainer said he was pleased with Murphy’s speech and he would like to see the Buy American Act go father.