Lamont Throws His Hat Near The Ring

[ccharles000]

Ned Lamont, who took on U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman three years ago, has formed an “exploratory committee” for a challenge to Gov. M. Jodi Rell in 2010. He plans to talk about Moody’s, not Moody.

Lamont made the announcement Wednesday, a day after the polls closed on the 2009 municipal elections and attention officially turns to the already crowded 2010 campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate.

Republican Gov. Rell is expected to announce this month whether she’ll run for reelection.

Lamont plans to strike his nascent campaign themes at an annual address he delivers Thursday at Central Connecticut State University, where he teaches. He plans to talk not about controversial top Rell aide Lisa Moody, but about a new report about state finances from Moody’s Investor Services.

The strategy, and the issues focus, promise to differ markedly from Lamont’s Senate campaign in 2006. (He’s pictured at the top of this story at a debate during that race.)

That year, Lamont ran as the “true” Democrat against conservative Democratic incumbent Joe Lieberman. Lamont was championed by anti-Iraq war, pro-public financing and pro-universal health care Democrats who have a disproportionate influence in primaries. And he indeed won the primary. (He lost the general election to Lieberman, who ran as a Republican White House-backed “independent.”)

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/11/lamont_throws_h.php

[RepublicanElephant]

1. run, ned, run! nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Sounds like a smart move!

I wish him skill!

K&R

[CalGator]

3. Wish he'd run against Dodd.

Dodd's a good Dem but very vulnerable due to ethics lapses. He can still pull out a win, but it won't be easy. Lamont has good name recognition from almost thumping LIEberman 3 years ago. Here's to him winning the governorship if he gets the nod. :toast: