Decision ‘08

Lieberman Not Expecting A Warm Welcome

As the Senate prepares to reconvene after the August break, Joe Lieberman is not going to be shocked if he is not Mr. Popularity with his Democratic colleagues:

Sen. Joe Lieberman, whose independent re-election bid has rankled Democrats, says he expects a cold shoulder or two from Senate colleagues when he returns to Washington next week.

“Obviously, some of my colleagues may be coming up more directly to embrace me, some may be looking to avoid eye contact,” the Connecticut senator said in a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press. “I’m just going to do my job and that will be that.”

The three-term lawmaker is defying his party after his primary loss to Ned Lamont. Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other prominent senators, have abandoned Lieberman and rallied behind Lamont.

Lieberman said he is determined to stay his independent course — and is careful to separate personal relations from politics.

“I’m intent on making it business as usual as much as possible, which is to do my job for the people of Connecticut,” Lieberman said of his return to Capitol Hill.

“I feel like I’ve got good personal relations with most of my colleagues, apart from the politics,” he said. “We’re all pros, and campaigns come and go.”

One great thing about a Lieberman victory would be the spectacle of watching the Senate Democrats fall all over themselves to kiss and make up…I guess the pollsters have been on vacation, too, as I haven’t seen any new numbers on the Connecticut race lately…

8 Responses to “Lieberman Not Expecting A Warm Welcome”

1 mtl Says:
August 31st, 2006 at 9:07 pm
If ted kennedy offers to drive joe home, I’d take a pass.
2 Muffin the Cat Says:
August 31st, 2006 at 9:31 pm
Go to Election Projection here. They usually have the latest.

http://www.electionprojection.com/states06/connecticut06.html
3 mtl Says:
August 31st, 2006 at 9:56 pm
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2006/senate/

A little better compilation. easier to read, with averages to boot.
4 Aaron Says:
August 31st, 2006 at 10:13 pm
I’m hoping that Lieberman will change his mind and caucus with the Republicans after he’s elected as a GOP. He says he’ll stick with the Dems, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that that’s just a ploy to get more Democrats to vote for him in CT.
5 too many steves Says:
September 1st, 2006 at 6:19 am
Don’t count on that happening. Lieberman is a tried and true Democrat on all but one issue - an important one, some would say MOST important, but just one. Lieberman is no DINO.
6 fatman Says:
September 1st, 2006 at 8:15 am
Sorry to go off topic, but does anyone know of any polling data for House races, specifically PA-12?
7 Sean P Says:
September 1st, 2006 at 11:41 am
The only thing that would cause Lieberman to caucus with the Republicans would be if the Democrats follow Kos’s advise and strip him of all his committee assignments. And, so far at least, the Democratic leadership has refused to do this.
8 Evan Says:
September 1st, 2006 at 11:45 am
Fatman-

I haven’t seen any specific polling data on PA-12 either, but the most recent (08/30) Evans-Novak report at Human Events cites it as “leaning Democratic”.

Polling data for any House race seems to be scarce right now, or maybe I just don’t know where to look…