Lieberman sought the Democratic Party's renomination for U.S. Senate from Connecticut in 2006 but lost to Ned Lamont, a Greenwich businessman and antiwar candidate.
Lieberman was officially endorsed by the Connecticut Democratic Convention, which met in May. However, Lamont received 33 percent of the delegates' votes, forcing an August primary.
In July, Lieberman announced that he would file papers to appear on the November ballot should he lose the primary, stating,
"I'm a loyal Democrat, but I have loyalties that are greater than those to my party, and that's my loyalty to my state and my country."[101]
He stated that he would continue to sit as a Democrat in the Senate even if he was defeated in the primary and elected on an unaffiliated line, and expressed concern for a potentially low turnout.[102] On July 10, the Lieberman campaign officially filed paperwork allowing him to collect signatures for the newly formed Connecticut for Lieberman party ballot line.[103]
Lieberman loses to Lamont in Connecticut primary
On August 8, 2006, Lieberman conceded the Democratic primary election to Ned Lamont, saying, "For the sake of our state, our country and my party, I cannot and will not let that result stand," and announced he would run (and eventually did win) in the 2006 November election as an independent candidate on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket, against both Lamont and the Republican candidate, Alan Schlesinger.[104]
November election
On August 9, 2006, Lieberman announced his intention to run as an "independent Democrat" in the upcoming November election.[105] He petitioned to run on the ticket of
Connecticut for Lieberman party, saying that this was a technicality and that he would continue to caucus in the Senate as a Democrat.[106]
Polls after the primary showed Lieberman ahead of Lamont by 5 points; later polls showed Lieberman leading by varying margins. Schlesinger barely registered support and his campaign had run into problems based on alleged gambling debts.
On August 9, 2006, Hillary Clinton affirmed her pledge to support the primary winner, saying "voters of Connecticut have made their decision and I think that decision should be respected",[107] and
Howard Dean called for Lieberman to quit the race, saying he was being "disrespectful of Democrats and disrespectful of the Democratic Party"
On November 7, Lieberman won re-election on the Connecticut for Lieberman line with 50% of the vote. Democratic challenger Ned Lamont garnered 40% of ballots cast and Republican Alan Schlesinger won 10%.[116] Lieberman received support from
33% of Democrats, 54% of Independents,
and 70% of Republicans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lieberman
Lieberman: McCain is 'on the road to victory'
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