Update 8: Lieberman asks Lamont why he won't release his tax return. Lamont gives a half way answer, saying he's released hundreds of financial documents. I'm now wondering why he won't release his tax return? Lieberman's final answer is not an answer but a speech.
Update7 : Immigration: Lamont: go after the employers, he supports Senate bill, we need comprehensive immigration reform with an earned path to citizenship for the undocumented already here. He does want to say though that Americans are willing to do the jobs. He says we have to give path to undocumented kids. Lieberman: He supports Senate bill. They sound pretty similar on the issue.
Update 6: Lamont makes a joke -- Lieberman tries to interrupt him and he says "Let me finish, this is not Fox News." Even Lieberman laughed.
Update 5: Impressions so far. Lieberman is clearly more confident and a familiar face. But he sounds sour and more than a little bitter. Lamont is much more fresh-faced and natural and has the better arguments. He also stays on message better: universal health care, bring jobs to the state, reproductive choice. Our country is on the wrong track and it's time to bring a change. Lamont talks about future direction while Lieberman defends his record to date. Lamont goes on the offense, Lieberman seems stuck on the defense.
Lieberman's worst argument so far was his attempt to cast Lamont as a Republican when he served on the city council where they vote on things like potholes. Lamon'ts disadvantage is he has no prior record to tout.
Update 4: Question: What do the Democrats stand for? Lieberman accuses Lamont of mis-stating his record on social security. He has always opposed privatization. Question: Lieberman again attacks Lamont, pointing out where Lamont has sided with Republicans. Says Lamont tried to stop Obama's senate race. Lamont says Lieberman can't have it both way. Denies Lieberman's charge. That was Lamont's best answer. Lieberman says he intends to win the primary. He believes Lamont can't win the general election. That's why he's running as an independent.
Update3: Question: What's the difference between Lieberman and Lamont on Iraq? Lamont: Best hope for success is to get military out of Iraq, help with rebuilding. Lieberman: Situation in Iraq is better now than it was a year ago. 2/3 of Iraqi military is ready to lead the fight. We should not abandon them. He is not for an open-ended commitment in Iraq. If we leave too soon, we will emolden the terrorists and allow them to win.
Update2: First Question to Lieberman on his position on Iraq. He supported the initial decision to initial decision to go to war and opposed many policies after. But now we need to support the Iraqis. Now to Lamont: We need to start bringing the troops home now. Lieberman responds: challenges his prior statements on troop withdrawal. Lamont: He does supports withdrawal. To start within six months.
Update 1: 90 second openings, Lieberman goesfirst. Ned Lamont is running against him on one issue, Iraq, and he is distorting his record. He's not George Bush and Ned should stop running against Bush and run against him. He's a democrat with a 35 year record of voting for democratic values and the working class.
Lamont: Touts his volunteer experience. Washington is making a lot of bad choices. Says to Lieberman, "If you won't challenge Bush and his agenda, I will."
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The debate is also on MSNBC and starting now. I'm going to live-blog for a while as well. Hope you join in in the comments.
Embattled Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman will debate his primary challenger Ned Lamont tonight at 7pm ET in CT. You can watch live on C-span.
Jane at Firedoglake will be live-blogging the debate from the Lamont war room. Markos at Daily Kos has a loyal Democrat whip count.
As an aside, who has the money edge in the race?
....As of this quarter Lieberman's campaign war chest is reportedly somewhere between four and six million dollars.....Ned Lamont, says he's willing to dump more of his family fortune into the race. Lamont announced yesterday he will use another million dollars of his own money to unseat Lieberman. Lamont has already spent one in a half million dollars. Lamont's campaign manager says the family fortune is somewhere between $90 and $300 million.
