Actually A Smart Move

I suspect that John Droney, Jr. is a very smart political operator indeed. He publicly called for Joe Lieberman to run as an independent.

A prominent ally of U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman urged Monday that Lieberman run for re-election as an independent and not trust his career to left-leaning Democratic primary voters in August.

John F. Droney Jr., a former Democratic state chairman who helped Lieberman unseat Republican Sen. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. in 1988, said Lieberman should make his case for re-election to all voters in November.

"I think to be terrorized through the summer by an extremely small group of the Democratic Party, much less the voting population, is total insanity for a person who is a three-term senator," Droney said.

Droney's suggestion was not welcomed by the Lieberman campaign. The senator's staff has been trying to discourage speculation that Lieberman, who is more popular with Republicans and unaffiliated voters than Democrats, might run as an independent.

Why is it smart? Because I don't think for one second Droney expects or wants Lieberman to go independent. But this move highlights the out-of-state activists who are forcing this challenge in the first place, gives Lieberman a chance to deny he wants to run as an independent and gives Lieberman a chance to stake out his Democratic credentials.It also highlights the fact that extremists are trying to dictate to the party. By highlighting that, the rank and file will be more likely to come out for Lieberman. The story also gives the Lieberman camp an opening to take a hard shot at Lamont's past record.

Smith said Lieberman would not promise to support Lamont, because the businessman voted frequently with Republicans as a local official in Greenwich.

"The only public record this guy has, he voted time and again like a Republican," Smith said. "Why would we support that?"

The Lamont campaign has said that Lieberman distorted his record in an attack ad by suggesting he voted to cut education spending, when Lamont actually had voted to reduce an increase requested by the school board. Smith stood by Lieberman's ad.

"Ned has been attacking Joe Lieberman for months, now the shoe is on the other foot. Now that we're putting out the truth about his record, he doesn't like it very much," Smith said.

But a recent Quinnipiac poll highlighted a dilemma facing Lieberman: He has a shrinking, though sizable, lead over Lamont among Democrats, while the poll showed him easily winning a three-way race as an independent against Lamont and Republican Alan Schlesinger.

For the first time in decades, Connecticut is holding its statewide primary in August, when a typical turnout of 25 percent may drop even lower. If Lamont's base is energized, it could have a disproportionate voice in a primary.

"Every single weirdo in the left wing will be there," Droney said. "That's what the Lamont strategy is all about."

This was a brilliant move. And I honestly don't think the left understands how brilliant it was. They just got smoked.