Hartford Courant -- Lamont Forces Primary

[Larkspur]

As Lieberman Wins `2-1,' His Challenger Celebrates
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-senate0520.artmay20,0,6534128.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman won the endorsement of a divided Democratic state convention Friday night, but his challenger, Ned Lamont, garnered enough support to force a primary and a summerlong debate on the war in Iraq.

Lieberman, 64, a three-term senator and his party's 2000 vice presidential nominee, defeated Lamont, 52, an anti-war candidate, on a 1,004 to 505 roll call ballot, the first step on what promises to be his most difficult re-election challenge.

After months on the defensive, when Lieberman saw old allies publicly criticize his support for the war and question his place in the Democratic Party, the Lieberman campaign was in a mood to crow.

"It was a big endorsement, given all the anti-war sentiment in this room," said Sean Smith, Lieberman's campaign manager.

Lamont, a Greenwich businessman seeking statewide office for the first time, also could claim a victory as he won 33 percent of the vote, more than twice the 15 percent necessary to force a rare primary against an incumbent senator. The primary will be Aug. 8.

"The significance is the people of Connecticut want change," Lamont said.

As Lamont spoke to reporters, his young supporters chanted, "Ned! Ned!"

SNIP