U.S. Senate

Candidates:

Alan Schlesinger (R)

Ned Lamont (D)

Timothy Knibbs (CC)

Ralph Ferrucci (G)

Joe Lieberman (CfL) - Incumbent

John Mertens (I)

This race is turning into the political story of the year--not just in Connecticut, but nationwide.

Three-term Senator Joe Lieberman, who was his party's vice-presidential candidate in 2000, is in his fiercest fight since his 1988 victory over Lowell Weicker. The challenge is coming from a fellow Democrat, Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, who disagrees with Lieberman over the Iraq War and other issues.

Lamont won 33% of delegates at the Connecticut Democrats convention in May, and has been steadily gaining on Lieberman in the polls. A Quinnipiac poll in June showed Lieberman winning 55%-40% among likely voters. A (possibly flawed) Rasmussen poll released the next week showed the race even tighter: 46%-40% for Lieberman.

Joe Lieberman announced on July 3rd that he would begin collecting signatures for a possible independent run should he lose the August primary to Ned Lamont. This is made even more interesting by the fact that the Independent Party of Connecticut is also petitioning a candidate for the first time: Dr. John Mertens, a professor of engineering at Trinity College in Hartford.

In July, Schlesinger was asked to "re-evaluate" his candidacy by Republican leaders (including the governor and state chairman) following revelations that he had used a fake name to obtain a Wampum Card at a casino. Schlesinger has so far stayed in the race.

Polls showed Lamont in the lead going into the primary, and he squeaked out a 52%-48% win on August 8th. Lieberman vowed to continue as an independent candidate.

Also, Rep. Diana Urban thought about entering the race as an independent, antiwar Republican, but dropped out when she couldn't get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.