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Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses Dem. Primary

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2006
Posted on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 09:54:17 AM EST
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Update: Lieberman must collect 7,500 signatures by Aug. 9, the day after the Democratic primary in order to run as an "unaffiliated candidate" on the November ballot. Coverage of his announcement: New York Times; CBS; Reuters

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Joe Lieberman is made a major announcement at 1:00 pm ET.

Lieberman is running as a Dem in the primary. But he's having staffers put out petitions in case he loses the primary so he can run as a "petitioning Democrat."

The AP reports here. The Hartford Courant here.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is to announce today he will petition for a place on the November ballot as an "independent Democrat," giving him a chance to stay alive politically should he lose an Aug. 8 primary for the Democratic nomination.

....Even should he lose in August -- and the most recent public poll shows him leading Lamont by 15-percentage points among likely primary voters -- Lieberman would retain his status as a registered Democrat, but his name would not appear on the ballot line with other Democrats.

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    • Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses Dem. Primary | 13 comments (13 topical)
    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 11:16:28 AM EST
    Lieberman and his staff are obviously afraid of something the official polls aren't showing.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#2)
    by ras on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 11:57:15 AM EST
    If Lieberman is smart, he'll not follow Lopez-Obrador's lead and associate himself with Loopies the way Lopez-Obrador did with Hugo Chavez. Lopez-Obrador would likely have won, rather than lost, the MX presidency yesterday had he been more careful about his friends. Lieberman may well be concerned about being associated with similar elements in the Dems.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 12:16:13 PM EST
    The whole reason Lieberman has a problem at all is that he dissociated himself from the people in his own party. If he hadn't done that, he'd have no primary opponent and would be sailing to an easy reelection.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#4)
    by cpinva on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 12:27:15 PM EST
    he hasn't been a democrat for years, why does this come as a shock to anyone? if he had any sense of honor, he would go ahead and change parties officially.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 01:56:13 PM EST
    I hope he does it, political parties should be outlawed. They are a big part of the problems in our governement. I like to think how confused all the drones would be if they had to think before voting and not just clicking dem or rep.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#6)
    by ras on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 02:26:07 PM EST
    Muddy, I like to think how confused all the drones would be if they had to think before advocating such foolishness as the outlawing of political parties.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 03:01:17 PM EST
    DailyKos (Kos himself, in fact) points out that Lieberman cannot use the word "Democrate" in his self-description (e.g., "petitioning Democrat"). The use of the word is restricted to actual Democrats, not those who have left the party. That makes sense.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#8)
    by jimcee on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 03:51:57 PM EST
    MontereyHam, I can't use the word 'democrate' either, it just doesn't roll off the tongue. ;). I think that Lieberman will win his seat again because there will be Republicans who are pragmatic about support for the war and re-electing a senior senator who can bring home the bacon. I could be wrong but I'm thinking "Lucy and the Football" for the left-footed kickers out there.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 06:37:56 PM EST
    Jimcee, you may be right. It depends on how many Democrats Lieberman loses by leaving the party (even if he says he's not doing that) and whether the national Republican Party starts putting resources into Schlesinger's campaign if they get the idea he might have a chance in a three-way.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 06:57:22 PM EST
    Wouldn't it be nice if he couldn't come up with the signatures!

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 07:21:17 PM EST
    Lets make sure that Ned Lamont runs as an indpendent if he somehow loses the primary.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#12)
    by Aaron on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 08:01:29 PM EST
    Lieberman's position is all about the hedging and posture. He's betting that the Bush strategy, if you can call it that, will bear fruit in the Middle East, and that his support will garner huge political capital down the road. I never thought of Lieberman as much of a gambler, but I think he's put it all on the line with this move. I imagine even he feels that his current posturing will either make or break his political future. I'd say he's right. As a Jew, Lieberman is in a good position to exploit the current political atmosphere. Even though he's always been considered a liberal Democrat, Middle East reform is appealing to many Jewish Americans, Christians and secularists. Even Muslim Americans see the opportunities looming on the horizon. Whether anyone can capitalize on them is another question entirely. But it's pretty much a dead certainty at this point that the Bush administration along with the GOP are utterly incapable of doing so, now or in the future. Personally I think aligning yourself with an administration composed of criminally treasonous political opportunists drunk with power is ill-advised, regardless of your agenda or political aspirations. But I suppose we'll see about that.

    Re: Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses D (none / 0) (#13)
    by Bob In Pacifica on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 08:29:58 PM EST
    I presume that the Republicans are going to run someone for the Senate. That would only take votes away from Lieberman. Hopefully, any Democrats who mistook Joe for one of them over the last few years will now take notice. Too bad there wasn't anyone from the left to run against Feinstein here in California. I've been voting against her since Mayor Moscone was gunned down in SF and she ran for the post. Supported Jello Biafra in the special election back then. Oh well.....

    Lieberman Announces Independent Run if Loses Dem. Primary | 13 comments (13 topical)