No, we need Lamont to beat Lieberman! (0.00 / 0)

Is there any other bigwig Dems in CT who can beat Lieb?

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by: LeftyKing @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 18:23:42 PM UTC

lieberman (4.00 / 3)

can only win if he runs on the Republican ticket or as the de facto Republican candidate (i.e. they don't run a candidate and he sticks with his CFL party). Even then he will probably lose to any competent Democratic candidate. I don't think he's planning to run as he'll be 70 and has terrible poll numbers.

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by: tremayne @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 18:31:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lamont is NOT the Strongest Candidate! (0.00 / 0)

He's already lost to Lieberman, and we could find another candidate for a primary against Joe. There will be plenty of Democrats who will want to take him on, because he CAN be beat -- especially if he follows through on his threat to filibuster health care.

At that point he might get a lot of conservatives and Republicans to like him, but he'd have to switch parties to get them to really vote for him.

You can't expect the Republican candidates to roll over for Joe the way they did in 2006, unless he switches parties.

And if he does that, he loses most of his conservative Democratic support.

As for Lamont v. Jodi Rell, Rell is still VERY likely to win. But, a wealthy candidate like Lamont who can self-fund will be key to opposing her.

The thing about Rell is that she has no national future in the Republican party. She's WAY too moderate to hope to win a national election in that party. So, for her, Governor is the end of the line politically.

She COULD switch to run for the Senate against Chris Dodd and win (she won't do this). But, then what? She'd be constantly under massive pressure to do what she's told by the wing-nuts. And why would she want to do that?

The right wing just doesn't like her much and they control the Republican party nationally -- and will control it even more after the teabaggers get their way.  

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by: Cugel @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:20:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think a potted plant (4.00 / 1)

could beat Lieberman at this point. And it would do a better job in the Senate, too.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 22:54:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why is this site making me double-post? (0.00 / 0)

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by: LeftyKing @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 18:24:05 PM UTC

It happens sometimes (0.00 / 0)

Don't worry about it. I fixed. it.

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by: Chris Bowers @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 20:49:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Who are the other Democratic candidates? (0.00 / 0)

Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, and I forget the other one, though I don't recall it being anyone hugely well known.

I wonder if Dodd sees his problems as being among indies, or among the base?  Lamont on the gov line could turn out the base, presumably.  I don't think a Lamont/Dodd ticket starts off in a particularly strong position with indies, particularly if it's Lamont vs Rell.  Hopefully we can manage that problem.  At least Lamont has money, and Dodd will too.

It really is too bad that Corzine lost.  Especially to an empty suit like Christie.  It's not encouraging.  I was really hoping that we had blown up Chris Christie by the end of that campaign.

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by: texas dem @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:00:39 PM UTC

Corzine had a 30% approval rating! (0.00 / 0)

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by: Cugel @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:12:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So does Dodd. (0.00 / 0)

Or he did back in April (34%).

That's why I brought up Corzine in a comment that was about Dodd and Lamont.  We just faced an election in which we had a very unpopular but very progressive incumbent in a very very blue state, and that incumbent just lost.  Not even a second republican running as an independent, the pathetic and sordid background of Chris Christie, his hapless and vague performance on the stump, his morbid obesity, a popular president, and Corzine's own millions could help him.  Like I said, it's discouraging.

Fortunately, Dodd still gets to legislate.  His credit card bill is thought to be the main reason his approvals have recovered to 45%.  If he is standing behind the president when a GOOD healthcare bill is signed (and trust me, he will be, right where the cameras can see him!!), then he might make it.  

It's hard to take heart from today's results though.  If Corzine can lose under those conditions, Dodd can lose too.  The only difference is that voters know that federal races are different from statewide ones, and have proven much more willing to elect off-party governors than off-party senators, especially in blue states.  That's a slim reed to hang onto though.

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by: texas dem @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:25:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't think this is the right race for Ned. (0.00 / 0)

The sec. of state in Connecticut is already running strong, and Ned's strength was in his contrast to Lieberman.  If he loses this one, it takes the shine off his image.  If he wins, it takes him out of the race against Lieberman.

Speaking of 2012, if we do have to go with someone besides Ned, who?  Chris Murphy gets mentoined a lot.  So does Blumenthal.  What about the state treasurer, Denise Nappier?  She seems interesting from the times I've seen her on C-Span.

Check out Blue Arkansas:
http://bluearkansas.blogspot.com/

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by: ARDem @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:38:48 PM UTC

I want the most liberal candidate for Senate (0.00 / 0)

So if Ned is the most liberal viable candidate, I'd rather he run for Senate than governorships.  Unfortunately, being a governor seems to tamp down on liberal tendencies, as we saw with Jon Corzine, whereas in Congress they're allowed more freedom to bloom.

But I don't know for sure if Ned is the most liberal, though he's probably close to being so.  For one thing, he hasn't come out in support for Medicare for All, if I'm not mistaken.

So I'm hoping if Ned runs for Governor he wins, and I'm hoping we can get the most liberal viable candidate to run for Senate in 2012.  I don't know who that is.  I doubt Blumenthal will ever run, and I don't know how liberal Murphy is.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 01:30:05 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Assuming there are no more viable progressives (4.00 / 2)

that might get into this race (an assumption that I am not in a position to judge), I think supporting Lamont at this stage in a no brainer.  Lamont has a history with the progressive netroots, and he clearly believes that running as a progressive is the way to go. It is moments like these, long before election day, where the most important decisions are made.  

What's more, we need more strong progressives at the state level to help pull the party in the right direction.  A Democratic governor can pressure congressional and party leaders, not to mention that White House.  The more progressives in those positions, the better the caucus will be.

In addition, if Lamont can leverage the netroots support he built is his earlier campaign to win the Governor's race (and primary), it will be a powerful model for other Dems. Lamont is (Dean aside) the most high profile netroots candidate. His identity in national political circles is far more about this than maybe anyone else. A win in a Lieberman rematch can more easily be spun as an aberration - Joe has no party - than a win against a different opponent.  (That's not to say it wouldn't be worth supporting Lamont against Lieberman, only that if he chooses to run for Governor instead I think that's better.)

Politics is the art of the possible, but that means you have to think about changing what is possible, not that you have to accept it in perpetuity.

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by: David Kaib @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 22:30:37 PM UTC

Is Jodi Rell even beatable? (0.00 / 0)

Last I heard she was the most popular thing since sliced bread; I didn't think she'd be vulnerable, especially to a relatively inexperienced candidate like Lamont.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 01:16:38 AM UTC