Latest AP Article on the CT Primary

[urbuddha]

Senator Pins Lieberman Hope on Primary
By DEVLIN BARRETT (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
August 04, 2006 9:49 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - In a fresh sign of trouble for embattled Sen. Joe Lieberman, a fellow lawmaker and campaign ally suggested Friday that the three-term Connecticut incumbent drop plans to run as an independent if he loses Tuesday's Democratic primary by a wide margin.

"I think he really has to take a look at what reality is," said New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who campaigned by Lieberman's side earlier this week.

Lautenberg also said he would switch his allegiance if anti-war challenger Ned Lamont prevails in the primary. Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, trails his primary rival by double-digit margins in public and private polls heading into the campaign's final weekend.

Lieberman said Lautenberg's assessment "doesn't come from me."

"There is no basis for that conclusion by anybody. ... I have not said that to anybody, we have not discussed such a possibility. So, that may have been Frank's personal point of view, but it doesn't come from anybody in my campaign," he told Connecticut Radio Network.

With his remarks, Lautenberg went further than other prominent Democrats by suggesting that Lieberman decide to accept the verdict of the primary voters as final.

Other party leaders have said they intend to support Tuesday's winner, with a formal announcement possible as early as Wednesday. But they have avoided speculation about Lieberman's post-primary plans, saying they did not want to convey the impression that they expect his defeat.

Lieberman said as recently as Thursday that he would run as an independent if he failed to capture the Democratic nomination.

"I frankly believe that if there is a significant margin of victory, if Mr. Lamont wins, I find it hard to believe that Joe Lieberman would challenge that, but it's his decision. I am going to support the Democratic candidate," Lautenberg said in an interview with National Public Radio.

Asked what sort of margin he would consider significant, Lautenberg answered: "I think if oh, let's say 20 percent of the people, or 10 percent of the people in the Democratic Party, and they're signed up as Democrats, don't want to give him a vote, I think he really has to take a look at what reality is."

"I also think that the prospect of a loss, another loss would be very, very unpleasant to imagine," Lautenberg said, adding that Lieberman has not told him what he would do.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday showed Lamont, a political novice, leading Lieberman 54 percent to 41 percent among likely Democratic voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points. Campaign officials say private polls generally track the public survey results.

Nearly 11,500 unaffiliated voters have switched their registration to Democrat since May, reflecting the strong desire of many to vote in the primary between Lieberman and Lamont. Unaffiliated and unregistered voters have until noon Monday to register with a political party.

In Connecticut, more than 942,000, or 45 percent, of the state's approximately 2.1 million voters are unaffiliated. More than 702,000 are Democrats and more than 456,000 Republicans.

Although Lieberman has said he intends to run as an independent if he loses the primary, it is not clear that he has made an irrevocable decision to do so.

In addition to costing him his party's support, a primary defeat would leave Lieberman with the daunting challenge of raising money for a fall campaign against Lamont, a multimillionaire, and Republican Alan Schlesinger.

Asked Friday about abandoning the race if he loses the primary, Lieberman said, "No, no, because I'm going to win the primary."

Only a week earlier, Lautenberg had appeared at a Lieberman campaign event, declaring: "Joe, we want you back. The Senate needs you. The country needs you."

In the radio interview, Lautenberg said the enthusiasm of the pro-Lieberman crowds left him stunned by the new poll numbers showing Lamont with a double-digit lead.

"I'm very sad to see what the polls are saying at this point in time," Lautenberg said.

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Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Conn., contributed to this report.

[connecticut yankee]

1. That's wonderful news, but

I'm really not worried about Joe.

He'll probably get a job as a lobbyist and make much more money than he's making now.

That is, after he finishes out the rest of his term as Secretary of Defense.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

2. Since the missus is a lobbyist, I'm sure

Holy Joe will have no problem finding a similar job