Posted on 08/07/2006 11:17:43 AM PDT by ncountylee
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — In January, when cable-television executive Ned Lamont held the event billed as his political coming-out party, one of the first to arrive was the mayor of Hartford, Eddie Perez — who stayed just long enough to tell him to get out of the race.
Standing before a small audience, Lamont said he felt a little like Adm. James Stockdale, Ross Perot's running mate, who introduced himself at the 1992 vice-presidential debate by saying, "Who am I, and why am I here?" It was a shaky analogy for Lamont; Stockdale's awkward performance made him material for late-night comedians.
Tom Swan, sitting in the audience, felt his heart fall into his stomach.
Swan, a veteran political organizer in Connecticut, had just agreed to manage Lamont's campaign, which, he said, "meant that three-fourths of the Democratic establishment was really hating me."
Here was his candidate: earnest, unguarded, a little goofy, with a political résumé that began and ended with town politics in Greenwich. Lamont's statewide name recognition at that point was 4 percent — or as Swan puts it, wryly, "within the statistical margin of error."
Seven months later, Lamont is poised to pull off the biggest upset in the state's political history. A recent poll shows he has a 13-point lead over Sen. Joe Lieberman, a three-term incumbent, among likely voters in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
His success has been driven by several factors, among them Democrats' fury at Lieberman's support of the war in Iraq; support from bloggers and other progressive activists; and Lamont's personal fortune, which allowed him to enter the race when others could not.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Although arguable, I believe a Lamont win helps Republicans.
CT Ping-a-ling!
Democrat millionaire = good, Republican millionaire = evil.
A 3 way race could give the R a window of opportunity.
If Lamont beats Lieberman, do you think Lieberman will run as an Independent? If so, do you think he can win that way?
I agree and, we need to get all encumbents out a.s.a.p.
Finding a republican in CT is as likely as finding an old eskimo in a speedo.
That was last week. This week the lead has been cut in half, and conventional wisdom says the win goes to the candidate with the momentum.
A more recent poll, todays, says otherwise. It's only 6pts
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5247470
Polls - trolls I think Lieberman will be saying he's the "COME back kid" and saved liberalism.
He is a Traitor.
They don't seem to embrace the ideas of the metal lunch box crew as much as they embrace their votes and mandatory union dues.
win win win win. Lieberman's flavor of democrat needs to be run out of the party. go for it dems!
I think he will run and lose to Lamont in a close race. Dems will resent the independent switch.
If Lamont wins the primary, and Lieberman does not run as an independent, Lamont wins.
If Lieberman wins the primary, Lieberman wins the general election.
Unfortunately, the Republican senate candidate has issues and cannot win, even a 3-way race with both Lieberman and Lamont. In fact, a lot of Republicans would support Lieberman in a 3-way just to make sure Lamont does not win.
I'm on board with that.
Altho I'm afraid that the system is stronger than any individuals who might enter it. They need money to get elected, they all take money from special interests to raise that money, and of course they then pay back those interests with influence.
Term limits might just be the best bet to avoid anyone getting in too deep.
True, that!
DNC: "You're everything we look for in a candidate!"
I disagree: many Republicans in CT will know that and will vote for Lieberman in the general election. They know the Republican candidate cannot win no matter what, they don't want Lamont to win, and, after all, the Buckleys backed Lieberman the first time to get rid of Lowell Weicker. Lierberman definitely wins the 3-way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.