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Politics

Lieberman's independent streak finds support

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 8, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, who lost the Democratic primary, won in the general election. [Getty Images]

HARTFORD, Conn. - Capping a dramatic comeback as an independent, Sen. Joe Lieberman won a fourth term Tuesday against Democrat Ned Lamont in a bruising race that focused on the war in Iraq.

Lieberman's 18-year Senate career had been in jeopardy after a stunning loss to Lamont in the Democratic primary. But Lieberman launched his independent bid the day after the primary, defying party leaders who urged him to drop out for the sake of party loyalty.

Connecticut is a Democratic-leaning state where the war and President Bush are unpopular, and the primary was widely seen as a sharp rebuke of Lieberman's pro-war views.

But Lieberman's aggressive campaign downplayed his support for Bush's Iraq invasion. He hammered the antiwar Lamont as too partisan and too inexperienced to be an effective senator, a classic incumbent re-election message.

The 64-year-old Lieberman, who just six years ago was his party's vice presidential nominee, has targeted the political center, reaching out to Republicans and independents, the state's largest voting bloc. His pro-war views won praise from Bush, as well as endorsements and fundraising help from Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The senator has vowed to work across party lines, reminding voters that if Democrats captured the Senate, he could become chairman of the Homeland Security panel. Despite his independent bid, he has promised to caucus with Senate Democrats.

Lamont, a wealthy cable TV executive whose previous political experience was on the local level in Greenwich, pumped $16-million of his own money into the race, including a $2-million loan. Lieberman raised more than $16-million.

[Last modified November 8, 2006, 03:05:12]