Lieberman on the ropes

The three-term veteran Democrat Senator from Connecticut and the 2000 vice presidential nominee is on the ropes today as his state's voters go to the polls in a primary to decide whether to keep Joe Lieberman or to switch to Ned Lamont, a Democrat businessman with no political experience. Recent polls had Lamont up a few points over Lieberman, who vowed to run as an independent if he loses the Democrat primary. [ ABC News report ] [ CNN report ]

Although the poll had Lamont with 51 percent to Lieberman's 45 percent of likely Democrat voters, 45 percent of all Connecticut voters say they are unaffiliated with a political party. That bodes well for Lieberman, who could make a good run as an independent even if he does lose the primary.

The big scandal on the morning of the election was about the Lieberman campaign Web site, which the Lieberman folks say was hacked and forced to shut down, replaced by a page that said the site had not been paid for. They, of course, claimed foul play and accused the Lamont folks of dirty political tricks.

Here's a nice satire of the whole thing from Wonkette.

By the end of the day, it could be a whole new race, or it could all be over for Lamont, and Lieberman will be almost assured of re-election in one of the nation's most liberal states.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.