Lamont narrows Lieberman's lead in poll

[Rose Siding]

HARTFORD, Conn. - Democrat Ned Lamont has narrowed his deficit with Sen. Joe Lieberman, but the three-term incumbent still holds a 12-point lead as their race heads into the final stretch, a poll released Wednesday shows.

Lieberman had a 49-37 percent advantage over Lamont, according to a Quinnipiac University survey of likely voters. Republican Alan Schlesinger trails with 8 percent, and 5 percent are undecided.

An Oct. 20 poll by Quinnipiac had given Lieberman a 17-point advantage, 52-35 percent. Schlesinger was at 6 percent in that survey.

"The good news for Lamont is that he has cut Lieberman's lead by 5 points," said Quinnipiac University Poll director Douglas Schwartz. "The bad news for Lamont is that he still trails by 12 points. ... If Lamont has an October surprise, he'd better check the calendar."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061101/ap_on_el_ge/connecticut_senate

[xchrom]

1. this is really more about the people of connecticut

at this point.

republicans purposefully voting for a former democratic party candidate.

it's about the peoples relationship to the war.

lamont has earned his right to win the election -- but because of some nastiness on the part of lieberman -- we have what we have.

it now becomes about the character of the people.

[CookieD]

2. It's about Lamont being a mediocre candidate. eom

[xchrom]

8. are you aware that the dem leadership in the senate has

given VERY little money to lamont?

lamont has run a fine campaign -- but you hardly say that institutional support for him has been strong.

now, in con -- it's a fairly well advertised race -- but lieberman is going to win{probably} because he is running as a republican -- ala schwarzenager, or shays, etc -- but a republican none the less.

it's down to the citizens -- and what they are about -- and it's not all that flattering right now.

[Selatius]

9. The Dem leadership, in my view, sees it as a win-win situation

Even though only one of them is running as the Democrats' choice in the election.

Unfortunately, if there weren't so many close races, the campaign committee probably would've thrown more money Lamont's way.

Personally, I've written off Connecticut as a "neutral" or a "loss." Lieberman is a lot of things, but he can't claim to be a progressive when he supports a war that eats up the lives of many for no good reason.

[xchrom]

10. i suppose.

but i think there is deeper meaning re: the character of americans. period.

[primavera]

11. I think that hits the nail on the head

From the DNC's point of view, the goal is to acquire control of the Senate and Connecticut is a state they don't have to worry about: whoever wins is going to serve within the Democratic causus. At that point, it's good enough, the DNC can move on to the more tentative toss-up states where additional money might make a significant difference. Moreover, that a one-time Democratic Vice Presidential candidate doesn't enjoy the support of Democratic constituents and has to seek support from Republicans in order to win is an embarassment; no national party figure is going to want to come within a million miles of that.

[Zhade]

18. If lieberman caucuses with the Dems, it'll only be because...

...Dem leadership is caving in to his extortion.

They're fools if they think he won't play that card again whenever he wants, especially if the Dem majority is a narrow one.

There's a reason one doesn't give in to bullies - they don't stop bullying. Reid et al are enabling leiberman's extortion, and it will hurt others if lieberman wins because of this.

[GemMom]

21. Has Lieberman ever claimed

to be a progressive?

[MisterP]

19. same thing's happening to John Yarmuth (Louisville, Ky.)

apparently he's not getting much party dough

[Cha]

20. I don't think Lamont is

a "mediocre candidate"..I think he's a brave citizen who took on the fight to get joe big fat liar lieberman outta the Senate and enabling bush.

And Lamont's latest ad is Awesome! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x1353

[AllexxisF1]

3. What I want to know is

How will the Democratic leadership deal with him in the future. Even if he wins the Democrats should cast out the bastard and have nothing to do with him.

[still_one]

6. It all depends

If the Democrats win by a majority, I would tend to agree with you, however if it is a tie in the Senate, it would do the Democrats cause right to mend bridges if that's what it takes to get a majority in the Senate. Why? because then WE GET TO SET THE AGENDA, and there are at least two republicans in the Senate who are more progressive than Lieberman

[JCMach1]

4. BS, Joe may win but this will be MUCH closer

perhaps a squeaker...

[cobalt1999]

5. think Joe switches back to a democrat after the win?

I think he does. I think he is only running as an independent because he has no choice right now. After the election, I think he'll be back in the democratic fold and the dem leadership know it.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. No choice?

He had a choice -- to accept the will of CT's Democrats and support their nominee.

If you mean he had no choice if he wanted to maintain the seat he considers his right, then you're correct.

[Joe Bacon]

17. No. LIEberman will jump to the GOP

He has nothing to lose and the Homeland Security Chairmanship to gain so he can write more torture legislation. LIEberman can't wait to get his enemies into concentration camps.

[Naipes]

7. I'm sticking it to Joe.

Unfortunately, the majority of god damn Republicans are voting for Joe; couple that with everyone that voted for Joe in the primary and the son-of-a-bitch returns to Congress for another 6 years! Pisses me off no end.

[KurtNYC]

12. We should remind those republicans that a vote for Lieb is a

vote to make Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House!

he may be a DINO but he still counts toward majority

[cmkramer]

13. No it isn't

The Speaker of the House is not a Senator.

[ShortnFiery]

16. Shh! Many Right Wingers will not pick up on that fact. LOL eom

[ShortnFiery]

15. YES!

Thanks for the good news!

Everyone go VOTE! :dem:

[Exultant Democracy]

22. Don't worry it is the unlikely voters who will make the difference this year

people who voted for Kerry but didn't vote in 2002 are not being counted on to vote in these polls but they will be turning out in record numbers. Right now MoveOn.org's Call for change campaign is in high gear. There is a call being placed every 4 seconds by move on members and a recent Yale study has found our GOTV model to be the most effective being implemented during this cycle. If you want to help in addition to bitching go to www.callforchange.org and get on the phones.