Connecticut (Reuters) - Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, took a hammering over his support for the Iraq war on Thursday in a debate with an antiwar rival whose race for the Senate is seen as a battle for the heart of the Democratic Party.
Lieberman, who announced on Monday he would run for re-election as an independent if he loses his party's August primary, appeared on the defensive for much of the debate against Democratic rival Ned Lamont, a self-financed neophyte.
``Senator Lieberman if you won't challenge President Bush and his failed agenda, I will,'' said Lamont, who has been embraced by antiwar Democrats and leftist bloggers for criticizing Lieberman's willingness to support President George W. Bush on the war and other issues.
``Senator Lieberman cheered the President every step of the way when he stood have been asking the tough questions,'' said Lamont, who made millions in the cable TV business. ``It's time for us to change course. It's time for us to start bringing our troops home.''
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-lieberman.html