Lieberman challenger widens lead

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman said Thursday that he hopes a new poll showing his primary challenger with a double-digit lead will “shake up” his supporters and help him eke out a victory.

Lieberman also said he will run as an independent if he loses the Democratic primary on Tuesday, despite reservations being voiced by some national party leaders.

“But I intend to win the primary,” he quickly added.

Lieberman, 64, one of the Senate’s most well-known moderate Democrats and his party’s nominee for vice president in 2000, has been widely criticized for his support of the Iraq war and his perceived closeness with President Bush.

Millionaire businessman Ned Lamont, a political novice, was supported by 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, compared with Lieberman’s 41 percent. The sampling error margin was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A similar survey July 20 showed Lamont with a slight advantage for the first time in the campaign.

Lamont, 52, who owns a cable TV firm, has been able to tap into voters’ frustration with Lieberman as well as his personal wealth – he has contributed $3 million to his own campaign.