In radio ads that began airing Monday, Lamont said he'll support Lieberman if he wins. He said Lieberman, who has not ruled out running as a candidate unaffiliated with any party in the November election, should back a fellow Democrat.
Campaign officials for Lieberman said they are focusing on winning the Aug. 8 primary and not collecting signatures for an independent run. Still, Lieberman has said he is not ruling out a possible run as an independent candidate. (NBC 30)
Not that Lieberman's going to answer. He's going to wait as long as he possibly can before committing. I have to say, his evasive behavior seems to suggest that he's going to cut his ties with the Democrats at some point during the next month or so.
That wouldn't be a smart move. Connecticut Democrats have invested a lot of time and their own personal reputations in Joe Lieberman. They wouldn't be happy if he abandoned them.
If he does declare his independence, we'll know that this race isn't about policy, issues or values. It's about Joe Lieberman winning another term.
Source
"Lamont Calls On Lieberman To Endorse Him If He Wins Primary." NBC 30 12 June, 2006.
10 comments:
That is really premature and arrogant of Ned Lamont to think he is going to win and wants Joe to support him.Joe Lieberman will win on August 8th so the Lamont Camp better take it easy before making requests that just won't happen either way
Lieberman's ratings from the American Conservative Union is 17 (see http://www.acuratings.org. In 2005, it was 8, and in 2004, it was 0.
By comparison, Shays and Nancy Johnson have lifetime ratings of 47, Simmons at 54. Larson is at 8, deLauro is at 5. (Senate and House ratings are based on different votes of course, since ACU measures things that fail and thus are never brought up for a vote in the other house).
Lieberman's 17 rating doesn't make him the most conservative Democrat by any stretch. Lincoln (21), Pryor (25), Salazar (28), Nelson of Florida (41), Bayh (21), Landrieu (20), Baucus is 14 but lately has been in the 20s, Nelson of Nebraska (53), Reid (20), Conrad (20), Dorgan (18), Tim Johnson (20), and Byrd (30) all have higher ratings than Lieberman.
Now, I realize that this methodology isn't perfect, but it's the way a prominent conservative organization rates members of congress and then provides this information to its members.
There's really one issue that's solidifying Lamont's campaign: they don't like that Lieberman voted for and continues to advocate the Iraq war. That's it. Nobody really seems to be FOR Lamont as much as they are against one policy of Lieberman's.
Lieberman isn't going to cross party lines and join the Republicans. Just like McCain isn't going to run as a Democrat and be a Veep candidate. McCain has an 83 ACU rating, so he's basically as conservative as Lieberman is liberal. Specter is 45, and Chaffee is 37 (and may lose this fall). If Lieberman ran as an Independent and won, he'd almost certainly caucus with the Democrats (in fact, he'd be crazy not to, lest he give up his committee assignments).
If Lamont wins, will that push the Democrats further to the left? What will that do for Hillary's chances in 2008, as she has essentially been for the war.
I'm not a Lieberman supporter, as I'm a Republican, but I'm going to call it like I see it. Joe's not coming over to the Republican side.
Some people here suggest that if Lieberman ran as an independent, so there'd be a three way race, then the Republicans could win the Senate seat. Only if things go perfectly, and Lieberman and Lamont get about the exact same number of votes. Then the Republicans could win with 37% of the vote or something. But it's not likely.
I still think, however, that Lieberman is going to win the primary, and then win the general election in a walk.
If Lieberman wins (more likely than not), and if Rell is way up in the polls the week before the election (likely), how good is the Democratic Get-out-the-vote effort going to be?
Many of the Lamont supporters are going to be quite upset, and while they won't vote Republican may just not go to the polls. This may help Shays, Johnson and Simmons.
Add to this the fact that JDS, Malloy, Lieberman and Lamont are all sucking in dollars that may have gone to other Democrats, and of course they're taking media time and newspaper columns, so Farrell and Murphy aren't being covered.
If Lamont wins the primary, and he goes on to win the general election, Democrats will likely move further to the left. The anti-war crowd would be energized, and would turn its sights onto other Democrats.
Right now, the Republicans don't seem to have a great strategy on what to do going forward about Iraq, but neither do the Democrats. Add a Lamont victory to the mix, and you'd really have a muddled message from the Democrats.
If he (Lieberman) does declare his independence, we'll know that this race isn't about policy, issues or values. It's about Joe Lieberman winning another term -- GK
It ain't necessarily so. Would you have said the same about Lowell Weicker, who changed his party to run for governor? Lowell was all about issues (income tax), policy (income tax) and values (income tax). He was a issue and principle guy from the crib. What about Jeffords, the New Hampsire miracle, who changed parties and momentarily gave control of the congress to Democrats? I think he split on the principle of milk price supports. No, No, people leave parties when they percieve that the parties have moved away from their principles, i.e. Reagan. If Joe goes independent, the blame probably should be laid at the feet of Daily Kos and other progressive homegrown specimens (BRubenstein -- Hi'ya B). Besides, what makes anyone think that Lieberman's position on the war is unprincipled? There are some people -- not posting here-- who think it is unprincipled to abandon people to whom we have promised the fruits of democracy -- exactly at that point when democratic institutions in Iraq are taking root. Lieberman may not rise in support of your principles or those of DailyKos, but that is not to say he is without principles.
BR-
I have worked on Numerous Campaigns on The Local and State Level since I was 18 years old I have been doing 24 1/2 years to be exact.
Senator Lieberman is a great candidate I know a lot of people dont agree on his Iraq war Stance and everyone has a right to their opinion.
The Iraq War is a fact and has been for 3 years and If One Issue Lamont thinks he can get elected US Senator by being arrogant and trying to get Joe to step aside if he loses to Lamont in the Primary.
I dont think Lamont will win and thats my opinion. But If Joe were to accept that deal(forget it he will not accept) and support Ned.If Lamont were to win I wouldn't vote for Lamont I will not vote at all.But that isnt going to happen.
Lamont is trying to pull a DeStefano tactic Well I guess it is fitting Because they are all on that challenger line.August 8th we will see who wins and who loses
BR...
By the way I am not on Senator Lieberman's staff or been asked to do anything. I am just a supporter and nothing else. I suggest Before you name call in the future or accuse someone of something that you ask them directly.
I want to give my opinion you and others may not agree with what I have to say that is your right not to agree with me. But please lets keep it civil
BR-
You believe what you want to believe But I do not work on Lieberman's staff. I work a regular job at a Private School overnights and I just like to express my opinion.
But I guess If my opinion isnt the same as yours I cant say it and get attacked by you for saying it If I do.
If you dont like what I have to say then dont reply It is on here for everybody to read and If they dont like they dont need to reply either.
Just Because I havent worked as a Senior Staff member on a Campaign
doesnt mean I cant have an opinion.
Are we supposed to be proud of you and give you a medal or something??
If Rubenstein was such a super consultant/analyst/fortune teller, he A) wouldn't have to tell it to us because he'd earn our respect through his posting and B) would be getting paid the big bucks by some campaign somewhere to be on staff or consult.
He is doing neither of these - instead, he simply arrives on the site whenever he's feeling down on life due to the contempt many of his former colleagues hold him in, finds someone with an opinion contrary to his all-knowing enlightened opinion, and proceeds to belittle them in order to prop himself up.
I love the constant chest-puffing: "I was this and that, I have 200 years experience over 3 lifetimes in politics, you are some shit peon staffer with his head up his ass, you obviously can barely read the talking points which you are obviously using to write this post - because I'm Rubenstein, I know absolutely everything, therefore even though I don't know who the hell you are, I know your age, occupation, location, political affilation, and level of political savvy."
There are two Democrats I will NOT Support in November.
I will NEVER support John DeStefano for Governor I pulled my endorsement of his website and Switched to Dan Malloy.So If The Mayor of New Haven somehow defeats Malloy in The Primary which he will not. I think I would have no choice but to vote for Governor Rell in November.
I will ALSO NOT Support Ned Lamont He is a one issue(Anti War)Candidate.He would really be just the Junior Senator from Connecticut figuratively and literally.
Although Joe Lieberman's stance on the war isnt what everyone likes I say Get Over It.
As for BR... He is a big man when he can attack people.I think he loves to disagree with people just to hear himself talk.Probably lives in a big city or town.I am just from a small town wishing to express my opinion But once again People like BR...want to control what is said I have more respect for mmmjodirell and rell is going down they say what they have to say I rarely agree But they have some good points on occasions.BR...you may have knowledge But by making accusations about other bloggers that are not true takes away from what you may bring to the table.
Think about that for a while!!!
Ned Lamont must be so desperate to get Lieberman out of the way.If Joe goes Independent I will support him.
If Joe decided to accept this ludricious deal and back Lamont I would vote Republican for Schlesinger But I know Joe is too smart to do that and it is a pipe dream the Lamont gang is trying to push.
This reminds me of Duffey/Dodd all over again I was 6 years old when that happened back in 1970.
The anti establishment(Duffey) against the seasoned veteran(Dodd)
Now 36 years later we have anti war(Lamont) vs Seasoned veteran(Lieberman) I think this time the seasoned veteran will win.
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