I've said it before and I'll say it again.  If Democrats are going to get a Senate Majority this year, we hae to be big tent.  Lieberman may not be an activist's dream, but he's popular and a shoe-in for re-election.  Rasmussen just released a poll saying Joe wins re-elections as a Democrat or Independent.  Personally, I think we should take the D and work towards a majority instead of demanding party purity instead by removing anybody that disagrees with us. 

a fighting Dem.  I will not support him because of that, not because of his positions on the issues per se.

I'm for being your own person and having a "big tent" but the problem with Lieberman is that he actively pushes for the President's agenda. He's an apologist. It's not about demanding party purity...it's about demanding a backbone instead of kowtowing to the President. He doesn't smell blood in the water. He lacks a killer instinct. That's why I would support Lamont if I were in CT.

Personally, I don't give a hoot about what goeson in Ct.  I'm worried about Virginia, and seeing as that's the state where my vote matters, that's where I'll be putting my effort.

Let Conneticut makes it's own decisions.  We have a primary of our own to win.  Personally, while  I respect the "killer instinct" you speak of, I think Lieberman truly agrees with the President on many issues.

Lieberman is going to win as a Democrat or an Independent.  Check the polls, it's true.  I'd rather have him as a Democrat so we can work towards Majority Leader Reid. 

We are one country, and what affects the Connecticut Senate race affects the whole country.  I plan to put 99% of my effort into Virginia, of course, because it's closest to home.  However, I will do what I can for other races as well...mainly donations but also blogging for people like Eric Massa in New York and others I support.

As far as the polls are concerned, I think they're very unreliable given that Lieberman has 99% name recognition in Connecticut while Lamont's is still very low.  We'll see what happens, but I have plenty of friends and family in Connecticut who aren't thrilled with Lieberman's support for Bush.

"Lieberman is going to win as a Democrat or an Independent.  Check the polls, it's true."

Then please lets stop trying anywhere where it doesn't look like we're going to win. You know we were down 10-12 points last year in the Governor's race. Did we stop because of some poll? NO! Don't give up just because a corporate poll tells you the job will be tough.

DanG, it's a tough job to actually move voters. I hope you would be up to the task and not give up when a poll tells you otherwise. Keep your faith in polls...I will keep my faith in the actual persuasion of people.

Last year, as you correctly point out, Tim Kaine was trailing Jerry Kilgore by 5-10 points until the fall, when he started to surge.  And we all know the results on Election Day - a landslide Tim Kaine victory.  I would also point out that surefire winner Mary Sue Terry held a huge lead - 20 points or more - over George Allen in that year's governor's race.  So, what did you all think of that Mary Sue Terry Administration, eh?  Ha. :)

Since I've had to be in Connecticut for much of the past year, this question is close to my heart - in fact, I've been following the Lamont/Lieberman race even more closely than the Miller/Webb primary.

As you might guess, I strongly support Ned Lamont.  This race is not about whether the Democratic party will be a "big tent" party -- you'll note that there aren't calls to purge the party of *every* conservative Democrat or every Democrat who has supported Bush's war.

Lieberman is different than your run-of-the-mill conservative Democrat.  For one thing, he has been EXTREMELY disloyal to the Democratic party, publicly contradicting colleagues in the party in the media, and serving as Bush's most reliable apologist.  When Fox News wants a Democratic yes-man for Bush, they call Lieberman and he reliably delivers.

Secondly, Connecticut is not a conservative state.  Joe Lieberman is WAY out of the Connecticut mainstream when it comes to his positions on Bush's war, privacy issues such as the Terri Schiavo case, access to contraception, Bush's energy policy, etc. 

Lieberman is much more popular among Connecticut Republicans than he is among Connecticut Democrats.  And while it's possible that Lieberman might abandon the Democratic party if he loses the primary to Ned Lamont (which just goes to show his disdain for the party), I think this fight is worth it.  Lieberman has coasted to re-election without a challenge for far too long.

I met Ned Lamont two weeks ago and I am hugely impressed wtih him.  He's incredibly smart, down-to-earth, approachable, and energetic.  He's not taking his underdog status as an excuse to run a half-assed campaign; he's 110% committed.  I haven't seen grassroots enthusiasm and energy like this since the Clark and Dean campaigns in '03.  There are neighborhoods being canvassed in this "blue state" that haven't seen door-to-door outreach in decades.  The Lamont campaign is inspiring renewed enthusiasm in complacent long-time Democratic activists and is bringing new Democratic volunteers to the table.

Overall, whatever the outcome, this primary is very good for the Connecticut Democratic party.