Lieberman worse case scenario comes true

Former Derby Mayor and Republican Alan Schlesinger throws his hat into the US Senate race. Schlesinger is challenging the one issue wonder and xenophobe Paul Streitz for the Republican nomination

Former Derby Mayor Alan Schlesinger will enter the U.S. Senate race Monday, seeking the Republican nomination and setting the stage for a potential battle against incumbent U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman in November.

Schlesinger will vie for the ballot slot at the GOP convention on May 20 against Paul F. Streitz of Darien and possibly Jack Orchulli, the former fashion entrepreneur who lost against Sen. Christopher J. Dodd in the 2004 Senate race.

Schlesinger, who won six elections for the state legislature and two for mayor, predicted Thursday that Democratic challenger Ned Lamont would defeat Lieberman in a Democratic primary in August, setting up a possible three-way race in November. The reason for the prediction, Schlesinger said, is "history" - meaning that Democrats in Connecticut have traditionally chosen the more liberal candidate in scenario primaries.

"This is the party that brought you [former gubernatorial contender Bill] Curry twice and is totally upset with Lieberman over Iraq," Schlesinger said. "Lamont will be coming at him from the left, and I will come at him from the right."

Lieberman has not ruled out running as an independent if he loses the Democratic nomination.

Why is this bad for Lieberman you ask. It's bad because Lieberman had a 70+ percent approval among Republicans in the state but this was before a credible candidate came on the scene.

Now things have changed.

Schlesinger has a long political history in Connecticut winning two elections for mayor and six elections for state legislature. He should be able to pull away those Republican voters who would of otherwise vote for Lieberman in November which makes Lieberman's strategy of running as an independent all the more risky.