Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Letters to Joe

The Lamont campaign has created a website asking Senator Lieberman to respect the wishes of his party's primary voters and not run as an independent in November.

The link allows visitors to leave a personalized note asking Senator Lieberman to drop his independent run and support the Democratic nominee.

The campaign will deliver the notes to the Senator periodically and post the notes on their website. I don't think there is a number that will convince Senator Lieberman to drop out, but it will be interesting to see just how many signers this letter attracts statewide.

Also, in addition to the Connecticut bigwigs unity conference today, Senators Reid and Schumer (Senate Minority Leader and Chair of the DSCC respectively) have called on Senator Lieberman to end his bid:

Both senators issued a joint statement this morning on the Connecticut Senate race, saying, in part, "The Democratic voters of Connecticut have spoken and chosen Ned Lamont as their nominee. Both we and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) fully support Mr. Lamont's candidacy. Congratulations to Ned on his victory and on a race well run."


Rahm Emanuel (DCCC) got on board as well.

On the other side, mass confusion:

U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman had just reached down from the Goodwin Hotel atrium stage to shake Jim Diamond's hand about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday.

"People like me are going to be in a tough spot," said Diamond, a Stamford Democratic Party official.
...
Was Diamond concerned, as a party official, about damage to the Democrats' November chances as the result of the independent candidacy that Lieberman vowed to carry on?

"I am concerned," Diamond said.

How would he act on that concern?

"I'd prefer not to comment," he said.

"I think we need to get going," said his fellow Stamford Democrat and Lieberman supporter, David Stein.

A few minutes later, a conversation with Lieberman's adult son, Matt, ended much the same way. Talking to a knot of reporters at the end of a night of awaiting results that turned out badly, he - like his father - put forward the best spin possible, saying the Lieberman camp is "energized for an important campaign going forward to November."

He added: "And it's going to be about unity and purpose ... "

It was pointed out to him that many Democrats think his father's plan is the opposite of "unity."

"I gotta go, though," he said, and he turned away.


Expect prominent supporters in Connecticut (although, I would imagine, not his son) to leave the ship in droves in the coming days until only Jim Amman and Eddie Perez are left.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wes Clark has this page up to encourage people to send messages to Joe to end his self-centered destructive move.

Anonymous said...

To Joe;

It's too late baby now it's too late. Although we really did try to make it. Something inside has died and I can't hide and I just can't fake it oh no.

It usta be so easy living here with you. You were lite and breezy and you knew just what to do. But now you're so unhappy and I feel just like a fool.

Anonymous said...

The Courant mentions in an article about Lieberman's independent run that Lieberman has fired his campaign manager, spokesman and campaign staff...