Lieberman race tops five-state primary lineup

HARTFORD, Conn. – Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman, locked in a battle to keep his Senate seat against an anti-war challenger, said on the eve of today’s primary that the voters who were upset with him were trying to “send me a message,” and he assured them: “I got their message.”

In Georgia, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who made headlines this year for a scuffle with a U.S. Capitol Police officer, faced a runoff for her district’s Democratic nomination.

Primaries are also being held today in Colorado, Missouri and Michigan.

Lieberman’s seat was the biggest prize at stake. If defeated, he would be only the fourth incumbent senator since 1980 to lose a primary election.

The three-term senator, known for his centrist views and being the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee in 2000, has endured harsh criticism in his home state for supporting the Iraq war and been labeled by some Democrats as too close to Republicans and President Bush.

Challenger Ned Lamont, a millionaire owner of a cable television company, held a slight lead of 51 percent to 45 percent over Lieberman among likely Democratic voters heading into today’s primary.

In Georgia, McKinney is trying to counter her opponent’s charge that the six-term congresswoman is “the candidate of polarization and divisiveness.”

McKinney, the state’s first black woman in Congress, once claimed the Bush administration had advance knowledge of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In March, she struck a Capitol Police officer who did not recognize her and tried to stop McKinney from entering a House office building.

In other primaries today:

“In Colorado’s conservative 5th District, voters will choose among six GOP candidates to succeed retiring Republican Rep. Joel Hefley, a 10-year veteran. The winner will face Democratic Air Force veteran Jay Fawcett. In another race, three Democrats are competing to replace U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, the Republican nominee for governor.

“In Michigan, Republican Rep. Joe Schwarz faces a serious challenge from former state lawmaker Tim Walberg. Schwarz, a moderate Republican, is backed by President Bush, Arizona Sen. John McCain and the National Rifle Association. But the race has been dominated by a struggle over GOP principles. Outside groups have spent more than $1 million on the race.

“Missouri Republican Sen. Jim Talent and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill, the state auditor, are expected to win their party’s primaries.