Lieberman Shifts Strategy
Update: Lieberman, fearing a loss, shifts his strategy:
Facing a likely defeat, Lieberman has scrapped plans for a massive and costly get-out-the-vote operation on primary day, according to several Democratic sources. Instead, he will shift some of his resources into more television commercials designed to highlight his accomplishments for the state, in hopes of boosting his battered image....a landslide loss to Lamont could complicate Lieberman's hopes of winning a fourth term in a three-way general election contest.
Lieberman's internal polls show him losing:
Another campaign adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss strategy, said the public poll tracked internal campaign surveys. "The race has been headed in that direction for a while," the adviser said. "It's a fairly accurate reflection of where the race is."
Liebermnan's strategy changed at the last minute, fearing a big loss:
The Lieberman campaign, fearing that low voter turnout in the primary would favor Lamont, had plans to build a get-out-the-vote operation bigger than any seen in a state race in Connecticut. But in the face of discouraging polls, campaign officials concluded this week that the money likely would be wasted.
Why are we so focused on the Lieberman-Lamont race?
Lieberman's struggle has drawn national attention because it illustrates the power of antiwar activism in the Democratic Party and because of its potential implications for other races in the November midterm elections.
Update: The Lieberkidz try a thug strategy against Lamont.
*****
Original Post:
How worried is Joe Lieberman? With all the issues out there to differentiate himself from Ned Lamont, he's now picking on Lamont's wealth.
Yesterday the Quinnepac poll showed Ned Lamont ahead of Joe Lieberman by 54 to 41%. Today Lieberman acknowledges that his internal campaign polling shows him trailing Lamont, although he says the margin isn't as wide and he "hopes" he can win. Note that he isn't even saying he believes he can win.
Turning out more moderate Democrats who are not as keen to show up at the polls is going to be the key, the three-term senator said.
"We do a lot better" among Democrats who say they are not likely to vote, Lieberman said, which means the most hyped-up voters are, not surprisingly, mostly Lamont backers. In any case, he said, ""it's my nature to continue fighting for a victory until Tuesday evening and beyond.
His minions, such as they are, are still collecting petition signatures, which signals to me that he doesn't yet have enough. He also sounds somewhat defeated:
Lieberman said it bothers him that many voters say they "appreciate the work I've done and they respect my integrity" but plan to vote for Lamont anyway because of the war. He said he won't change his mind on the war because he thinks "it would be disastrous mistake for America" to set a deadline for the troops to pull out. That would only encourage "a brutal enemy," he said.
You can look at me. I'm not George Bush," the senator said.
He said, too, that "I am about more than just Iraq."
It's not just the war, Joe.
Two state teachers unions have endorsed Lamont over Lieberman, who has voiced support for experimental private school vouchers.
In interviews in recent days, voters also cited Lieberman's vote for an administration-backed energy bill, his refusal to support a filibuster against Alito, and other issues.
As for Lieberman's inistence that the Democratic party is so important to him, remember this?
His decision to seek two offices at once in 2000 was an irritant to some. Had the Gore ticket won, Connecticut's GOP governor would have been able to appoint a Republican to fill Lieberman's Senate seat.
Four years later, at a point in his own short-lived presidential campaign, Lieberman announced a symbolic switch in his residence -- to New Hampshire, part of a futile attempt to win the first-in-the-nation primary.
In other Lieberman's news, Joe has turned down Stephen Colbert's latest offer to be on the show before the primary. Crooks and Liars has the video of Colbert's latest offer.
I wonder what Joe's campaign will do in the next few days. Will the workers be making a heavy pitch to get voters to the polls or will they have given up? If they realize they don't have enough signatures and Lieberman loses the primary, I wonder if he'll admit it or just claim he decided against an independent run for the sake of the party? Will anyone believe him?
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