Two weeks ago, a [tag]Quinnipiac[/tag] [tag]poll[/tag] showed [tag]Ned Lamont[/tag] taking the lead over [tag]Joe Lieberman[/tag] in Connecticut’s Dem Senate [tag]primary[/tag] for the first time. Lamont, at the time, was ahead, 51% to 47%.
His lead’s a little bigger now. OK, more than a little.
Millionaire businessman Ned [tag]Lamont[/tag] has extended his lead against veteran Sen. Joe [tag]Lieberman[/tag] less than a week before Connecticut’s Democratic primary, according to a new poll released Thursday.
Lamont, a political novice, has support from 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, while Lieberman has support from 41 percent of voters.
“Sen. Lieberman’s campaign bus seems to be stuck in reverse. Despite visits from former President Bill Clinton and other big name Democrats, Lieberman has not been able to stem the tide to Lamont,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz. He added, “Three months ago, Lamont was virtually unheard of, except perhaps on the blogs. As Democrats get to know Lamont better, they like what they see. Lamont has established himself as a credible alternative to Lieberman.”
It’s reached a point in which Lieberman is already crafting a plan in response to losing next Tuesday’s primary.
Hartford Courant columnist Kevin Rennie said step one will apparently be a major staff housecleaning.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) will shake up his campaign staff if he loses Tuesday’s Democratic primary to challenger Ned Lamont. Lieberman supporters have watched with growing dismay since the spring as the three term senator’s campaign has gone from oblivious to defensive. They expect to reap a bitter harvest in 6 days.
Expect Lieberman to can anyone who was associated with 2004 Kerry campaign and replace them with a team of pungent veterans who will take the fight to Lamont.
I’m not entirely sure how the Lieberman campaign could “take the fight” to Lamont more than it already has, but presumably the ugliness we’ve seen can, and probably will, get worse.
Rennie added one other tidbit of note: Republican contender Alan Schlesinger, whose gambling problems have become terribly embarrassing for him and the GOP, is likely to drive additional Republican support in Lieberman’s direction. Rennie concluded:
Renewed Republican muttering about Schlesinger’s doomed campaign to follow as they eye the spot for Lieberman.
It’s hard to imagine Lieberman taking the GOP ballot slot — a campaign spokesperson has already ruled it out — but it was also hard to imagine Lieberman trailing by double digits with a week to go.
Stay tuned.