HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Senate candidate William Tong is the only Asian-American running for the U.S. Senate this year from the continental U.S.
While he realizes he's the underdog in the race, Tong argues that voters want an underdog in a tough economy, especially someone with a compelling personal story about being the son of Chinese immigrants who came to the U.S. with just 57 cents and a tourist visa.
The 38-year-old Democratic state representative says his story of growing up in his family's Chinese restaurant in the Hartford area, working nights and weekends washing dishes, cooking and waiting tables, resonates with everybody because it is "a universal story."
But his candidacy has generated a particular interest from Asian-Americans across the country, prompting many to open their wallets to help Tong.
