Fighting Joe Manhandles Lamont

Joe Lieberman certainly hasn't given up on the Democratic primary for his Senate race in Connecticut. Here's John Fund's report on last night's debate (from Political Diary):

Joe Lieberman has cultivated a reputation as a mild-mannered, religiously observant and even gentle U.S. Senator from Connecticut. That Joe Lieberman is not the one who showed up for last night's debate with primary challenger Ned Lamont, a cable TV executive who has pilloried Mr. Lieberman for his support of the Iraq War. Mr. Lamont seemed stunned by the ferocity of Mr. Lieberman's attack on him, which featured Mr. Lieberman frequently interrupting him. If voters were looking for someone who is a fighter, there was only one in the ring during the debate.

Afterward, MSNBC reporter Tom Curry approached Mr. Lamont and asked why he thought the tone of the debate was so different from the polite 2000 exchange between Mr. Lieberman and Dick Cheney when the two men were running for vice-president. Mr. Lamont explained: "When it's debating a Republican, it's like a tea party" for Mr. Lieberman but "when he's debating a Democrat he shows his passionate juices."

I have a different theory. Mr. Lieberman seems to be genuinely offended that what he terms "a single-issue candidate" might win a low-turnout primary based on a false connection with President Bush. "I've known George Bush, I've worked against George Bush, I've even run against George Bush, but, Ned, I'm not George Bush," was the way Mr. Lieberman began his opening statement. "So why don't you stop running against him and have the courage and honesty to run against me and the facts of my record?"

Mr. Lamont fought back by questioning Mr. Lieberman's party loyalty for deciding to run as an independent in the fall if he loses the primary: "If you're going to run as a Democrat, play by the rules. You can't have it both ways." Mr. Lieberman gave his challenger a withering glare at that point and said he would run in the fall as an independent if necessary in order to save the seat for Democrats. "I believe this man can't be elected in November," he said as he faced voters. Based on Mr. Lamont's lackluster performance last night and Mr. Lieberman's feisty one, I'd say that the more voters see of Ned Lamont the less it's likely he can even win the primary.

Despite the efforts of the wacky left, it looks like the "Joe-mentum" is moving back Lieberman's way.