Lieberman Mum on 4th District Leanings
by Christine Stuart | July 14, 2008 11:59 AM
Posted to Election 2008
Before heading to Bridgeport Monday, U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman stopped at Our Piece of the Pie in Hartford to talk about a $200,000 earmark the nonprofit social service agency will be receiving this year. After a brief tour of the facility on Sargent Street, Lieberman agreed to answer some general questions from the media.
Asked who the independent-minded senator would be supporting in the 4th District race between Republican incumbent Chris Shays and Democrat Jim Himes, Lieberman said, “I haven’t made a decision.” But he added, “I would be less than direct if I didn’t say Congressman Shays and I have worked very closely over the years. We’re very close friends … I just think he’s a great person and a great Congressman.”
“I don’t know Jim Himes very well,” he said. “I’m sure a lot of Democratic candidates are not hankering for endorsements from me in Democratic primaries perhaps more will be happy for it in the general election.”
Lieberman went on to talk about why he continues to caucus with Democrats and touched on his position in presidential politics. He did not reveal whether he would speak at the Republican National Convention on behalf of the Republican presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain.
Comments (4)
Posted by: david mccluskey | July 14, 2008 1:07 PM
If Joe can not support the Democratic candidate for the Congressional District he lives in combined with his not supporting the Democratic nominee for Pres (which he promised he would when he was fighting for his political life in '06) then Harry Reid and the Senate Democratic Caucus must tell him to sit with the Rs and strip him of his chairmanship.
Posted by: Headless Horseman | July 14, 2008 5:52 PM
They're getting around to it David. Don't forget, it took DiNardo two years to pull his picture off a wall in Ct Dem State Central. Stripping him of a committee chairmanship will have to take another couple of years of hand-wringing and chatter.
Posted by: JoesNotMyHometownBoy | July 14, 2008 9:16 PM
Can you imagine, Jim Himes muttering, "Don't do it Joe, please don't do it!" Kind of cool for GOPJoe to realize his endorsement is not a hot item. Interesting dilemma.
I know a retired legislative leader who has said (before the war and other irrational proBush positions) that he could get Shays elected in the Fourth as a Dem. But, he wouldn't.
Himes is a great candidate and will be a terrific Congressman from Connecticut.
Posted by: Walt![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| July 15, 2008 6:45 AM
The only reason Reid and the other Dem leaders allowed Joe to caucus with the Dems and retain his Chairmanship was so that the Dems would become majority Party and they would gain control.
This year if the Dems pick up a couple of seats, Reid and the other leftist Dem leaders will most likely give Joe the heave-ho,
Nevertheless, Joe will be a better Senator than the ultra-libs like Reid.
I'll vote for him again next time, if he runs, and like last time, with centrist Dems, joined by many Independents and Repubs, he'll probably make it again.