Lamont leads Lieberman in Conn. poll

Incumbent Democratic Connecticut U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, left, and his challenger, Greenwich, Conn., businessman Ned Lamont, right, shake hands as they meet on the platform at a news conference calling on Wal-Mart to change some of its policies as U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., center, looks on in Bridgeport, Conn., Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006. Lieberman, who is seeking a 4th term in the U.S. Senate, and Lamont will meet in a primary Aug. 8, 2006 to determine the Democratic Party's nominee to face Republican Alan Schlesinger. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

It appears that Joe Lieberman is in real trouble. From Yahoo News:

HARTFORD, Conn. - Millionaire businessman Ned Lamont opened a double-digit lead over veteran Sen. Joe Lieberman less than a week before Connecticut's Democratic primary, raising the possibility that the three-term senator may have to run as an independent in November, a new poll released Thursday shows.

Lamont, a political novice, had support from 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, while Lieberman had support from 41 percent of voters. The sampling error margin was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A similar survey July 20 showed Lamont with a slight advantage for the first time in the campaign.

I've been somewhat watching this primary from the sidelines, although the race is getting major blog coverage over at The Daily Kos. Basically this race boils down to a choice between a conservative Democrat who can't find one fault or criticism against the Bush administration, verses a political novice who is courting Connecticut voters' desire for a change and their own anger against Lieberman. In fact, you could say that this race isn't a race between Lieberman and Lamont, but rather between both conservative Lieberman and Democratic senator Lieberman. The biggest problem with Lieberman has been his refusal to oppose the Bush administration on any issue--and especially on the issue of the Iraq war. This has certainly caused a backlash among liberals and progressives--especially within the blogosphere. Continuing with the Yahoo story:

Lieberman, 64, one of the Senate's most well-known Democrats and his party's nominee for vice president in 2000, has been harshly criticized on liberal political Internet blogs and in Connecticut for his support of the Iraq war and his perceived closeness with President Bush.

Lamont, 52, who owns a successful cable television firm, has been able to tap into rank-and-file Democratic voters' frustration with Lieberman as well as his personal wealth, contributing $3 million to his campaign.

[The poll] indicated that Lamont's support is in large part a backlash: 65 percent of Lamont supporters said their vote is mainly against Lieberman. Schwartz said he had never seen a race where an incumbent has stirred up such negativity within his own party.

So this vote is really about a backlash against Lieberman. It is certainly going to be an interesting Election Day for Connecticut this Tuesday.