Lieberman May Campaign As Independent

Facing a stronger-than-expected Democratic primary challenge and sagging poll numbers because of his support of the of the Iraq war, Sen. Lieberman said today that he will collect signatures to run as an unaffiliated candidate if he loses next month's Democratic primary in Connecticut. "While I believe that I will win the Aug. 8 primary, I know there are no guarantees in elections," said the moderate Democrat. "No one really knows how many Democrats will come out to vote on what may be a hot day in August." Sen. Lieberman said that he will still run as a Democrat even if he's not the party's nominee and plans to remain part of the Democratic caucus if re-elected.

He is being challenged for a fourth Senate term by Ned Lamont, a multimillionaire owner of a cable television company with little political experience. Mr. Lamont has put more than $1.5 million of his own money into his campaign, calling Sen. Lieberman a Republican lapdog and accusing him of straying from his Democratic roots. The strategy has been effective. A recent Quinnipiac University poll shows Lamont gaining ground among likely Democratic voters, although Sen. Lieberman maintains high ratings among Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Unaffiliated voters are Connecticut's largest voting bloc, followed by Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Lieberman would have until Aug. 9 — the day after the Democratic primary — to collect 7,500 signatures from registered voters to land on the November ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. Experts have said his petition drive during the primary could further annoy Democrats who already question his party loyalty.

My response: I am a fan of Sen. Lieberman but I don't like such hedge-your-bets moves. It only reinforces many people's views about politicians. Sen. Lieberman should either continue to run as a Democrat, or leave his political party. This fence-sitting ain't gonna cut it.