With 74% of precincts counted Lamont leads Lieberman 51.7% to 48.3% in today’s Connecticut primary. Turnout was described as heavy. Barring a miracle in the last 26% of precincts it appears Lieberman is going down in defeat.
It will be very interesting to see what effect this defeat has on Democrats, on Republicans, and on the election. Being seen as pro-war has clearly become toxic among Democrats and perhaps moderates as well.
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It looks like it’ll be a Ned Lamont win. 83.5% reporting and he has a 3.8% lead and holding.
I think Democrats are going to find that uncritical support for this administration is something they endulge in at their own political peril. I think Lieberman’s defeat has less to do with support for the war (though I think that was clearly a factor) than it does with his unflinching support for BushCo. He broke party discipline at critical moments and gave political cover at moments to the most inept presidency I’ve seen in my lifetime. If there is going to be a loyal opposition to put the breaks on the administration, failure to hew to the party’s positions deserve to receive a heavy penalty.
I admire Lieberman for his generally liberal voting record. But his lack of party discipline at this point in history merits him getting the boot. I’m not sorry to see him lose tonight and hope he goes to defeat in November. This should become an object lesson.
David,
I think it was a measure of both. Connecticut voters expressed not only anger at Lieberman’s continuing support of the debacle that is Iraq, but how he continually betrayed Democrats by opposing them on almost every issue they can claim as their own.
I have never liked Lieberman, and I’m certainly not sorry to see him go–but I AM sorry that he is so obssessed with himself that he may ruin the Dems’ chances of holding Connecticut just to be a spoiler.
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