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2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut

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File:Lamontlieberman.jpg
Ned Lamont (left) and Joe Lieberman, pictured here during a July 6 NBC 30 debate, face off in a August 8 Democratic primary.

The 2006 U.S. Senate election for the state of Connecticut will be held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Senator Joseph I. Lieberman is running for re-election, but must first face Ned Lamont in the primary on August 8.

Candidates

Democrat: Joe Lieberman

Joe Lieberman, incumbent, running for his fourth term as U.S. Senator, is popular among Connecticut Voters, with an overall 55% approval rating. [1] He also received 66% of the votes at the Democratic nominating convention. Lieberman was also the vice-presidential running mate to Al Gore, in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election. The Gore/Lieberman ticket won the popular vote, but not the electoral vote in the highly controversial election, in which George W. Bush was elected. Lieberman is facing opposition from Democratic newcomer Ned Lamont in the upcoming primary on August 8th. A July 20 poll shows Lieberman behind Lamont by four points.

In recent months, Lieberman has drawn over 80% of his financial support from out-of-state donors, including notable conservatives like former Dan Quayle advisor and editor of the Weekly Standard, William Kristol.[2]

Democrat: Ned Lamont

On May 19, 2006, Greenwich, Connecticut businessman Ned Lamont received 33% of the vote at the statewide Democratic Senate Convention, well above the 15% threshold needed to appear on the primary ballot without having to collect signatures.[3] While the 66% vote for Lieberman constitutes a formal endorsement of his candidacy by the Connecticut Democratic Party, some commentators [4] [5] have called it a pyrrhic one, as Lamont's performance at the convention has forced a primary upon a heretofore secure incumbent. Lieberman campaign manager Sean Smith argued instead that many delegates at the convention saw the endorsement question as a "free vote" to "register displeasure with Lieberman without it costing them anything," and speculated that those voters will return to Lieberman in the August primary.[6]

Lamont differs from Lieberman on various issues: For example, he is against the Iraq War and the PATRIOT Act, supports gay marriage and universal health care, and says he would have led the charge against the Samuel Alito nomination. (Lieberman voted against the Alito nomination, but was one of eighteen Democrats to vote for the cloture that, if it had failed, would have blocked a vote on Alito's nomination unless Republicans had taken the controversial step of invoking the so-called "nuclear option").

Republican: Alan Schlesinger

On May 20, 2006 Connecticut Republicans nominated former Derby, Connecticut Mayor Alan Schlesinger. In July, stories broke about his prior gambling activities. Schlesinger gambled under the alias "Alan Gold," to avoid detection as a card counter, which is reportedly jeopardizing his latest candidacy for office, in which he is being pressed by state party officials, including Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell, to withdraw [7]. Connecticut GOP chairman George Gallo has mentioned a previous Republican Senate candidate, Jack Orchulli, as a possible replacement if Schlesinger withdraws.[8] On July 21 the Hartford Courant reported that Schlesinger had been sued by two New Jersey casinos for gambling debts. On July 24 Courant colummist Kevin Rennie suggested former State Senator Bill Aniskovich of Branford, who was defeated in 2004 seeking his eighth term, might be the replacement candidate were Schlesinger to fold. http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/07/24/will_dole_enter_the_fray_in_connecticut.html Other possible replacements whose names have been mentioned are U. S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor, State Senator John McKinney of Fairfield and Derby state representative Themis Klarides. http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/07/replacements.html

Endorsements and campaigning

For Lieberman

  • Human Rights Campaign, one of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equal rights organizations in the United States, has endorsed Lieberman[16].
  • On June 14, 2006, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman Charles Schumer said that the DSCC might endorse Lieberman even if he runs as an independent, if Lieberman agrees to vote for Democrat Harry Reid for majority leader if elected.[17]

For Lamont

  • MoveOn.org, a anti-war website that endorsed Howard Dean for President in 2004, endorsed Lamont's Senate campaign in an "Online Primary,"[23] with Lamont winning 85% of the vote and Lieberman winning only 14%.
  • Democracy for America, a political action committee founded by Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean, and run by his brother Jim Dean, endorsed and began collecting donations for Ned Lamont. Howard Dean ran against Joe Lieberman in the heated 2004 Democratic primary race. Dean had been criticized by Lieberman for sealing some of his official papers when he left his office as the governor of Vermont.

Political ads

Lieberman "Bear cub" ad

File:Attackonlamont.jpg
Lieberman's Attack ad on Lamont; lampooning him as a bearcub

On June 16, 2006, Lieberman released a web-based attack ad on his campaign site aimed at Lamont's support from Lowell Weicker. Produced by political consultant Carter Eskew, the animated ad is a sequel to a 1988 spot portraying Weicker as a sleeping bear - this time, Lamont is Weicker's "bear cub." The narrator of the ad asks, "Remember Lowell Weicker? Well, bears never forget. He's never gotten over losing his Senate race to Joe Lieberman, but instead of coming out of hibernation, he's sent his bear cub, instead. Ned Lamont." On its initial release, the ad received a negative response from many political bloggers, some characterizing it as amateurish.[27] Writer Andrew Sullivan called it "[perhaps] the worst ad ever." [28]

Lieberman "No More Joe" ad

Lieberman released an advertisement that aired on Fox News on July 9th and CSPAN during the first Lieberman-Lamont Debate. The ad argues that Lamont stands for little more that opposition to Lieberman. In service of this point, the Lieberman ad displays "an invented bumper sticker and fictitious website address, making them appear to be part of his primary challenger Ned Lamont's campaign."[29]

Lamont "Right Now" ad

In his first television commercial, Lamont is shown talking on a sofa in a well-appointed home while supporters peer through his window and eventually storm the house. It was notable as the first commercial to feature the popular liberal blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga. The ad was criticized by some bloggers across the political spectrum as "creepy" and a "Mentos commercial."[30], [31], [32]

Lamont "Messy Desk" ad

Lamont released a humorous ad mocking the frivolity of many of Lieberman's negative attack ads: "Meet Ned Lamont," begins a foreboding narrator, "He can't make a decent cup of coffee, he's a bad karaoke singer, and he has a messy desk."

Lamont later chimes in, "Aren't you sick of political attack ads that insult your intelligence? Senator Lieberman, let's stick to issues and pledge to support whoever wins the Democratic primary."[33]

Opposition to Lieberman

A number of activists and political action committees object to Lieberman's stance in Iraq, and a variety of issues, including not forcing hospitals to carry the morning-after pill. This is an issue especially in Catholic Hospitals which object to any form of birth control.

Many of Lieberman's critics also object to Lieberman's lack of commitment to the Democratic party, opposition to repealing Bush's tax cuts; his opposition to same-sex marriage[34]; his membership in the Gang of 14[35]; his support of Florida governor Jeb Bush in the Terri Schiavo case[36]; his willingness to compromise on Social Security privatization[37]; his alliances with Republicans and attacks on other Democrats [38][39][40][41][42]; and Lieberman's rhetoric, which is believed by many Democrats, including Paul Krugman and former John Kerry advisor Ari Melber, to often support Republican talking points[43][44][45]. Paul Bass, in the Hartford Courant, argues that Lieberman's voting record is not representative of his actions.[46]

As the swordscrossed.org blog puts it, "23 Democratic Senators voted for (the Iraq war) resolution. One is the target of this "national purge".... But of course ideology is not the issue with Lieberman - it is Party loyalty. He is a bad Democrat. And has been for some time."[47]

Opposition to Lamont

New Republic senior editor and "liberal hawk" Jonathan Chait, who is critical of Lieberman on a variety of issues, writes:

"I can't quite root for Lieberman to lose his primary. What's holding me back is that the anti-Lieberman campaign has come to stand for much more than Lieberman's sins. It's a test of strength for the new breed of left-wing activists who are flexing their muscles within the party. These are exactly the sorts of fanatics who tore the party apart in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They think in simple slogans and refuse to tolerate any ideological dissent."[48]

Kevin Drum, in The Washington Monthly, objects to this characterization of Lieberman's opponents, writing:

"Chait calls the Kos/Atrios wing "left-wing activists." But this is a serious misreading.... They aren't especially left wing. Markos in particular specifically prides himself on caring mostly about winning elections, not fighting ideological battles. Now, there's no question that the left blogosphere is vaguely in favor of all the usual liberal goals: progressive taxation, decent healthcare for everyone, tolerance for minorities, and so forth. And, yes, they're loudly in favor of these things.... But to compare it to the left-wing radicals of the early 70s is to misunderstand it completely. Netroots favorite Howard Dean is no lefty radical, and at a policy level most of the high-traffic liberal blogs are only modestly to the left of the DLC."[49]

Lamont is also criticized for his attempt to paint Lieberman as a Repbublican supporter, even though Lieberman's voting record is for the most part recognized as within traditional Democratic norms-- although this does not include votes with Republicans on procedural issues. [50][51]

Many Democrats have argued that a primary race against Lieberman will divert energy and attention from other contested Senate races; Lieberman and Lamont are spending millions of dollars on a primary for what would be a safe Democratic seat. Because of Lieberman's high favorability ratings in Connecticut, some strategists consider the commitment of significant resources toward defeating Lieberman to be dubious. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's request to Lamont not to run was rebuffed.

Lieberman's Independent Candidacy

On June 12, Ned Lamont began running radio ads promising if he lost the primary to endorse Lieberman, and challenging Lieberman to abandon consideration of an independent run by making a similar pledge. Lieberman refused to make this pledge. In fact, Lieberman campaign manager Sean Smith said to reporter Erik Campano, "Are we going to support Ned Lamont? Ah, no!"[52]

On July 3 in Hartford, CT, Lieberman announced that he will be collecting signatures in order to guarantee himself a position on the November ballot. Though this course of action would technically render Lieberman as an 'independent' candidate under Connecticut's election code, his campaign manager Sean Smith has declared that Lieberman will serve as a "petitioning democrat" instead.[53] This title is for demonstrative purposes only, however, as he cannot legally run as a "petitioning democrat" per-se due to Connecticut state law, which holds that independent candidates "shall not incorporate the name of any major party" into their own party designation.[54]. Liberal critics have viewed Lieberman's move as a betrayal of the Democratic Party and an affront to the popular electoral process[55][56][57].

On July 10, the Lieberman campaign officially filed paperwork allowing him to collect signatures for the newly formed Connecticut for Lieberman party ballot line. [58]

Because the deadline to submit 7,500 signatures for an independent candidacy immediately follows the August 8 primary under Connecticut law, Lieberman chose to declare his intentions to file well in advance of the outcome of that primary was certain.

Polls show Lieberman winning a plurality or majority of the vote in a three-way race in either scenario, but these leads have largely shrunk over the last few weeks.

Before the 3rd there was large speculation that this would happen. It now becomes a large issue especially in dealing with endorsements from the party's elite.

This has led to further charges against the Lieberman camp of political opportunism and lack of respect for the political process. [59]

On July 19, the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee passed a resolution denouncing Lieberman's proposed Independent bid.[60]

The Hill assembled a list of Democratic US Senators's opinions on a Lieberman independent run[61]:

Democratic senators supporting Lieberman in both the primary and the general:

Democratic senators saying they’ll support the winner of the Democratic primary:

Democratic senators who will support Lieberman in the primary but have not endorsed him in the general if he run as Independent:

Third Party candidates

  • Lieberman, if he loses the primary, will run on the Connecticut for Lieberman party ticket. (see above)
  • Ralph Ferrucci, Green Party - artist, truck driver, 2004 congressional candidate, and 2003 Guilty Party New Haven mayorial candidate.
  • John Mertens - a tenured Associate Professor of Engineering at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He also teaches environmental science and public policy.
  • Diana S. Urban - State representative from North Stonington; running as a petitioning candidate on an anti-war platform.[62]

Status unclear

  • Herschal Collins - a Vietnam War veteran and frequent litigant, was the first to file for the Senate seat, but has no campaign organization and does not appear to be a serious candidate. He has a lawsuit pending claiming that Lieberman's Senate term is invalid because he permitted the Department of Interior to approve two casinos for use on Indian lands in Connecticut.[63]

No longer running:

  • Paul Streitz, an author, immigration control activist, and 2004 candidate; dropped out of the race just before the convention and seconded Schlesinger's nomination there.[64]

Opinion polls

Democratic primary

Source Date Lieberman Lamont
Rasmussen (likely primary voters) July 20, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 41% Ned Lamont 51%
Quinnipiac (likely primary voters) July 20, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 47% Ned Lamont 51%
Rasmussen (likely primary voters) June 14, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 46% Ned Lamont 40%
Quinnipiac (likely primary voters) June 8, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 55% Ned Lamont 40%
Quinnipiac (all Democrats) June 8, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 57% Ned Lamont 32%
Quinnipiac (all Democrats) May 2, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 65% Ned Lamont 19%
Rasmussen April 27, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 51% Ned Lamont 31%

General election

Source Date Democrat Republican Independent
Rasmussen July 20, 2006 Ned Lamont 40% Alan Schlesinger 13% Joseph Lieberman 40%
Quinnipiac July 20, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 68% Alan Schlesinger 15%
Quinnipiac July 20, 2006 Ned Lamont 45% Alan Schlesinger 22%
Quinnipiac July 20, 2006 Ned Lamont 27% Alan Schlesinger 9% Joseph Lieberman 51%
Rasmussen June 19, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 61% Alan Schlesinger 23%
Rasmussen June 19, 2006 Ned Lamont 29% Alan Schlesinger 15% Joseph Lieberman 44%
Quinnipiac June 8, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 68% Alan Schlesinger 14%
Quinnipiac June 8, 2006 Ned Lamont 37% Alan Schlesinger 20%
Quinnipiac June 8, 2006 Ned Lamont 18% Alan Schlesinger 8% Joseph Lieberman 56%
Quinnipiac May 2, 2006 Joseph Lieberman 65% Alan Schlesinger 14%
Quinnipiac May 2, 2006 Ned Lamont 25% Alan Schlesinger 20%
Quinnipiac May 2, 2006 Ned Lamont 13% Alan Schlesinger 10% Joseph Lieberman 56%
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