NYT: Lamont Defeats Lieberman (Edwards, Clinton, Dodd, Dems back Lamont)

[chimpymustgo]

John Edwards was first to call and congratulate Lamont.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/nyregion/09campaign.html?ex=1155268800&en=477e3370bccf0077&ei=5087%0A

-snip -

Mr. Lieberman’s determination to remain in the race may soon collide with the will of many Democratic leaders in Washington and Connecticut, however. The Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, who is leading the effort to elect more Democrats in November, planned to announce this morning that they were supporting Mr. Lamont and that the party should unite around the nominee, according to Democrats close to both men. A spokesman for Mr. Schumer said a statement would be forthcoming, but declined further comment.

“Reid and Schumer will back Lamont, but the big question is if they will approach Joe about dropping out, because they don’t want to get his back up against the wall,” said a senior Senate Democratic aide who was involved in the Reid-Schumer discussions but was not authorized to discuss them publicly.

Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, Mr. Lieberman’s Democratic ally, privately congratulated Mr. Lamont last night and was expected to appear at a “unity press conference” with Mr. Lamont and other candidates at state party headquarters this morning. Two Lamont advisers said that they expected Mr. Dodd to help smooth Mr. Lieberman’s exit from the race; a spokeswoman for Mr. Dodd, however, said he would not play a go-between role to broker the senator’s exit.

A spokeswoman for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, restated Mrs. Clinton’s announced intentions to support the Democratic nominee in Connecticut — now Mr. Lamont. A spokesman for former President Bill Clinton, who campaigned for Mr. Lieberman last month, did not return a phone message late last night.

-snip -

Mr. Lamont said that former Senator John Edwards, the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee in 2004, was the first Democratic leader to call him last night. Mr. Lamont also gave a prominent spot at a rally last night at his headquarters in Meriden to several African-American supporters, including the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

-snip -

[no_hypocrisy]

1. As an Indepedent, can Lieberman now accept RNC funds, and if so,

would that fact be an issue that can be used against him?

[tsuki]

2. This is good news. But I wonder, if Lieberman does go indy,

where will his campaign funds come from? Will the RNC and CT Republi's support Lieberman and abandon their candidate? Or will they fund two campaigns in CT?

[fasttense]

3. So if this race was a barometer, what is the reading?

"The Connecticut race drew national and even international attention this summer as a barometer of the mood of American Democrats over the Iraq war."

So our mood about the Iraq war is not so good. Just look at the polls. Americans think the Iraq war is a failure and it is time to get out.

If it was a test, did we pass?

"Among political insiders, too, it was seen as a test for liberal bloggers to affect a major election, instead of merely commenting on politics in cyberspace."

So we affected a major election. Maybe politicians and the corporate media needs to start paying attention to what bloggers are saying.

And above all, don't even look like you are supporting the Liar-In-Chief.

"Mr. Lieberman, a leading moderate Democrat, drew scorn from members of his own party for supporting the war and for forcefully defending President Bush’s foreign policy."

[rock]

4. Incumbents get two bites at the apple

[neoblues]

5. What are Connecticuts breakdowns of Independents...

and Republicans... and about what percentage of those registered as Democrat will stick with the Democratic ticket and vote Democrat/Lamont. I'm wondering what stinky old Joe's real chances are... and considering he got nearly half the Democratic vote yesterday and he's almost loved by Republicans, I'm not feeling so good right now...

[chimpymustgo]

6. It's critical for BIG DOG DEMS to go to CT and REPRESENT for Lamont

No half-stepping. We are Democrats.