Lieberman in the Catbird Seat

Post election Joe has a choice to make if he wins: will he return to the Democrat party and mount a reform movement from within, perhaps partnering with Zell Miller? Will he switch party for a committee chairmanship in the Republican Party? Will he stay independent and play both parties dependant on issue?

Joe_Lieberman_official_portrait.jpgSenator Joseph Lieberman from Connecticut has jumped to an impressive 17 point lead over his opponent, Ned Lamont, who ousted him from his party in the contentious primaries earlier this year. Joe is in great position, as his  opponent’s and the DailyKOS grassroots campaign’s bubble is not only bursting, but looking like it will stick to their face rather messily.

Newsday reports on the new Poll:

HAMDEN, Conn. — Sen. Joe Lieberman has increased his lead over Democratic challenger Ned Lamont to 17 percentage points, according to the first Quinnipiac University poll taken since the two faced off in a debate earlier this week.

Lieberman, who is running as an independent after losing the Aug. 8 Democratic primary to Lamont, leads the Greenwich businessman 52 percent to 35 percent among likely voters in the poll released Friday. Republican Alan Schlesinger trailed with 6 percent and 7 percent were undecided.

The debate Monday was the first time Lieberman and Lamont had faced off since the August primary. The poll showed that among those who watched the debate or read or heard about it, only 3 percent said it changed their mind about their choice.

“Ned Lamont needed to score a knockout in the debates to catch Sen. Joseph Lieberman, but he apparently didn’t lay a glove on him,” poll director Douglas Schwartz said.

This leads to some interesting speculation — post-election if he wins, Joe Lieberman will be in the catbird seat, a term meaning “enviable position.” The term “Catbird Seat” was brought to the american vernacular by James Thurber, and popularized by sportscaster Red Barber, and it’s perfect for Joe Lieberman.

Post election Joe has a choice to make if he wins: will he return to the Democrat party and mount a reform movement from within, perhaps partnering with Zell Miller? Will he switch party for a committee chairmanship in the Republican Party? Will he stay independent and play both parties dependent on issue?

Joe’s likely to do what’s best for his constituents, so it all could depend on the offers made by the parties post-election.

2 thoughts on “Lieberman in the Catbird Seat”

  1. My guess: Stays independent, but caucuses with the republicns for purposes of alloting leadership positions. I see him as the Homeland Security chair or Intel chair.

  2. That would not break my heart Purple, I don’t agree with Joe on much, but he is reasonable and has this country’s interests at heart.

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