Richardson said his popularity among independents--who make up 39 percent of the electorate--and moderate Democrats make him the best bet to win in November, and that the Reagan Administration has made maintaining a Senate majority a high priority. "They view with some seriousness the objective of maintaining Senate control," he added. "They [the Administration] think I'm the only Republican candidate who has a strong chance of winning."

Shamie, of course, thinks otherwise. At a Young Republicans convention in Worcester last week, Shamie whipped out a letter from Reagan pledging neutrality in the primary race, and then went on to accuse Richardson of being too tied to the Georgetown cocktail circuit to adequately represent the state.

Shamie, a charismatic businessman and inventor who is making his second run for the Senate, has strived to differentiate himself from Richardson by identifying with working class interests and the solidly conservative ideology espoused by Reagan.

The latest Shamie charge is that Richardson is avoiding debates because he is scared of facing the garrulous businessman. A lot of these accusations and charges are not worthy of a response." Richardson press secretary David Gilroy said last week.

The two are scheduled to face off on WCVBTV Channel Five's "Chronicle" program July 11, and the League of Women Votes has announced televised debates for September.

"Ray has nothing else to run on," charged Gilroy.

Shamie, for his part, insists that he is not being overzealous in his attacks on the more subdued Richardson. "The nature of my attacks deals with specific positions, issues, it's not personal, and I don't think anyone should resent the fact that I point out that he flip-flops from one position to another, that he opposes President Reagan on major issues." Shamie said in an interview last week. "That's not an attack, that's simply a description of our differences on the issues."

State Republicans say that while Richardson is still a strong favorite. Shamie will have more pull among working class voters who find Richardson to be too cold, too distant and too much of an egg-head. "The man in the street understands Shamie's politics more than they understand the Law of the Sea Treaty." State Rep. John R. Driscoll (R-Northbridge) said last week.

"Shamie's a salesman he'll tell you that him-self." Said State Rep. Forrester A. Clark, Jr. '58 (R-Hamilton). "He has a very open style he's an easy-to-communicate-with person. Richardson tends to be a little more distant than the average politician; he never tries to be the hail-fellow-well-met."

Most state politicans agree that Richardson's toughest hurdle may be Shamie. The September 18 primary will be contested among hardcore Republicans, and Richardson will not have the benefit of registered Democrats and many Independents, who can vote in either party primary. But Richardson may have another problem--himself.

Unlike Shamie, Richardson speaks slowly and quietly, sometimes with a cracking voice, and he often lacks Shamie's energy. Nonetheless, campaign aides say he is running a grueling 16-hour-a-day campaign schedule and is trying to loosen up his campaign style.

But, said one Democratic political strategist, "He's still a stiff."