Lautenberg: Lieberman won't go independent if he loses big in primary

[Robbien]

The primary race that capitivates political junkies these days is next Tuesday's contest between Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and his challenger Ned Lamont. It's being seen as a referendum on the war with Iraq because Lamont has made Lieberman's support of President Bush's war effort the major issue in his campaign against the veteran senator.

Lieberman has said that if he loses in the primary (and he's behind in the polls), he'll run as an independent.

But this morning a close colleague and supporter of Lieberman's, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., told USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page that if Lieberman loses by more than 10 percentage points, he thinks it's unlikely the senator will mount an independent effort to keep his seat. Lautenberg said Lieberman hasn't specifically told him that, but that it's his (Lautenberg's) impression of what would happen. Page was guest-hosting on National Public Radio's Diane Rehm Show, and Lautenberg's comments were aired live.

Lautenberg told Page that in the event of a big primary loss, Lieberman would have to "take a look at what reality is."

Asked by On Deadline for a reaction, Lieberman campaign spokesman Rob Sawicki said "we are focused solely on winning the primary Tuesday and will leave speculations on what happens after that to others."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/08/lautenberg_lieb.html

[wakeme2008]

1. IMHO when Joey loses,,, he will ask Bush for a fat job

:shrug:

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. More likely Bush will offer him one first.

[Bumblebee]

10. Replace Rummy? There was a talk of that earlier...

But I am not sure they will want him now if he is damaged goods...

[mmonk]

2. So 10% is the number.

It will be interesting if that number holds depending on the outcome.

[BrotherBuzz]

3. 10 points?

So we are to assume Diebold is now tasked to keep Lieberman's pending defeat under ten points?

[LynzM]

4. No Diebold in CT!

We vote on "old-fashioned" lever machines! :bounce:

[BrotherBuzz]

8. I stand corrected

:thumbsup:

[AX10]

7. We don't have voting troubles in CT.

Fortunatly!

[Ganja Ninja]

5. "if he loses big"?

If he's a loyal Democrat and he loses he should bow out no matter what the margin of victory.

[tridim]

6. I wish I could vote against him..

I've had a feeling that his "run as an independent" threat was mostly just a ploy to get more primary votes. Seems like it backfired.

Informed voters are sick of these political games and they're going to make Joementum pay.

[peacetalksforall]

11. He can make more than he rakes in to his pocket as a lobbyist or he

can be Bush's Ambassador to some nice city.

[Robbien]

13. He has an in with the Defense Industy, Drugs and of course AIPAC

His wealth has grown dramatically while he has been in office. His out of office earnings could be astronomical.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. You gotta wonder what Bill Clinton told Joe when he came to CT.

Is it possible that the Big Dog has asked Joe NOT to run as an Independent if he lost August 8?
To "take one for the team" as AAR's Rachel Maddow put it.

:shrug: