Lamont opens shop in Norwalk

Why does Ned Lamont look so happy? Maybe because he just opened his first campaign office and is one step closer to defeating Joe Lieberman.

The Stamford Advocate gives the rundown on Ned Lamont's campaign office opening in Norwalk yesterday.

Ned Lamont, a 52-year-old cable entrepreneur from Greenwich, has done everything -- created buttons, printed bumper stickers, opened campaign offices -- short of announcing his candidacy against U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman for the Democratic Party's nomination.

That, he told the two dozen volunteers at last night's opening of his campaign office at 91 N. Main St., will be Monday at the old State House in Hartford.

"We're going to start with Joe's retirement party," he said to cheers.

Lamont, who stopped in Norwalk between union visits and a speaking engagement at Fairfield University, said he won't turn back now.

"I'd be lynched and hung by my ankles," he said in an interview. "We're full out."

Lamont's campaign manager, Tom Swan, said the Norwalk office will serve as the candidate's grassroots outpost in the 4th Congressional District. Lamont's headquarters is in Meriden, and other offices will be opened in the coming weeks in the Danbury, New Haven, Hartford and New London areas.

Lamont was greeted by applause as he entered the second floor office. Linda Arden of Stamford, Lieberman's hometown, said "thanks for running."

"Oh, we're going all the way, don't you worry," Lamont responded.

Be nervous Joe, very nervous.

UPDATE: In case you haven't seen it yet, here's video of Ned Lamont speaking to his supporters in New Haven this past Saturday (this embedded video thing is still in the beta stage so if things get choppy, hit pause and let the video load).