Patch's Poll: Do Political Endorsements Really Matter In An Election?

One of the largest public unions in Connecticut, the AFL-CIO, endorsed Democratic frontrunner Chris Murphy in his bid for the 2012 U.S. Senate seat.

According to the Connecticut Mirror, Murphy took the opportunity to proclaim that his candidacy was more about the importance of working families and organized labor against big moneyed interests looking to buy elections.

He also focused his attention on the Republican candidate, Linda McMahon, and how her side represents the billionaire interests, and less on his Democratic opponent, Susan Bysiewicz, the news site reported.

Murphy then went on to credit the AFL-CIO for helping Democrats win all five congressional seats in Connecticut back in 2010, in a year when Republicans swept many house races and ousted a number of incumbents, the news site reported.

"You want to know why Connecticut survived that tidal wave of Republican wins across the country?" Murphy said, according to the Mirror. "We did it because you built the biggest and the baddest grass-roots effort in the country."

It’s also important to note that the AFL-CIO also endorsed Chris Donovan, the frontrunner candidate for the 5th District seat. His campaign is facing a federal investigation into .

Do you think union endorsements, or endorsements from newspapers or other politicians, have an effect on the outcome of an election? Or do you think that the majority of Connecticut voters, who are unaffiliated with any political parties in this state, could care less about endorsements and already have in mind who they plan on voting for?

Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.