It was a rough day for Joe. First his constituents have
decided to rebel.
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Critics of Sen. Joe Lieberman's independent run to keep his job attacked on two fronts Monday, with one group asking an elections official to throw him out of the Democratic Party and a former rival calling on state officials to keep his name off the November ballot.
On his "Cup of Joe with Joe" tour stop in Bridgeport, he encountered some face to face hostility:
[W]hile he was on his tour of the New Colony diner in Bridgeport today, not everyone was receptive of his pitch that he wants to give all voters a chance to decide.
"That's a way of looking at it, another way is you being a sore loser," says Adam Mocciolo, Waterbury. "Oh no no, in the end the public will decide," says Lieberman.
I guess Adam Mocciolo, Waterbury, isn't part of the "public."
Then the campaign manager from the Gore/Lieberman 2000 run disses him:
Donna Brazile . . . says voters want someone to fight for their values in Washington and "stand up" to the GOP. "I still believe this election in Connecticut comes down to a choice between an incumbent senator who many believe no longer represents their views on certain issues and a newcomer who promises to steer, not just the party, but the country in a different direction," Brazile said.... She adds that many candidates could choose to run as independents if they lose the Democratic nomination, but it doesn't mean they should. "If you lose, you lose," she said.
And finally, his new pollster, Neil Newhouse, is writing memos describing his other top tier race, lest anyone forget which party is backing Lieberman's sore loser race:
All along we said that this race would close once voters got another look at Rick Santorum. Our internal goal was to be within six-seven points by Labor Day, then close the remaining margin over the last eight weeks of the race. . . .
That's obviously terrific news, especially considering the fact that we have yet to run a single broadcast ad in the Philly market. . . .
As all of us knew from the very beginning, Santorum will very definitely be positioned to win this race in November.
And don't forget that his pollster is also working for GOP Rep. Rob Simmons, who is in tight battle for Connecticut's second congressional district seat against Dem Joe Courtney.
And we're supposed to take Joe at his word when he expresses his devotion to the Democratic Party. Well, Joe, judging by the last few days you've had, no one is buying it. Let's hope Joe continues to have lots of bad days.