Senator Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut can claim a starting victory in his re-election campaign. Yes, he 'lost' the Primary election of his party; but consider:
- Senator Lieberman closed on his challenger from as much as 14% behind to 4% in the final primary election tally.
- Connecticut's Primary was a closed primary. Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Lamont were contesting pre-registered Democratic Party Voters; Mr. Lieberman has always attracted the center of voters , like Senator Diane Feinstein of California does, and the late Senator Henry 'Scoop' Jackson did.
- Connecticut's center, and non-committed voters, like other states, especially northeastern, are strong non-partisan Independents -- registered to vote as non-partisan or 'undeclared'.
- Per CBS News 'Face the Nation' [8-13-06] in an interview with 'victor' Ned Lamont, CBS' Scott Pelley noted that if the election were held today (referencing a July's end Connecticut poll), Mr. Lieberman would win a three-way race and Mr. Lamont would finish third.
- Mr. Ned Lamont the 'victor' and challenger to Senator Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic Primary Election, spent $4 million of his own money [general news reports] - he's a millionaire businessman running on an anti-Iraqi War platform. That's more than $3 per vote for him.
- Every Senator wishing re-election, unless some state finds a constitutional way for a term limitation, deserves a general election consideration if he seeks another term.
- Barring a fluke, Senator Lieberman, with his good re-considering him Democratic voters [46%+ of Connecticut's active Democratic Party registered voters], and with good 'independent or party-undeclared' voters frequently of the center (the place of political resolve); and Senator Lieberman voting Republicans, and other voters should bring him a return to the Senate - with good credit to him and Connecticut's reputation.
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DSOC, the Democratic Senate Organizing Committee, should just acquiesce and ask voters to vote for a Democrat and endorse that alone [some reports have that group endorsing Lamont alone]. Joe Lieberman, Senator and Democrat from Connecticut, if re-elected, will sit as, and with, the Democratic Party in the US Senate. Take that Senator Harry Reid, Bill Richardson et al. Other than gaining a fixed vote on one issue - the Senate and Connecticut regain a Democrat; a smart man with important seniority and influence, and a vote of conscience.
- To repeat my earlier jest, Mr. Ned Lamont, with his good showing, and personal money, might consider quitting the Senate race, and go straight to New Hampshire and file early candidacy papers for the US Presidential Primary -- he'd do just as well!
