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2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut

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This article is about Connecticut's 2006 U.S. Senate general election. For Connecticut's 2006 U.S. Senate Democratic Party primary, see Democratic Party primary, Connecticut United States Senate election, 2006.

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File:Lamontlieberman.jpg
Ned Lamont (left) debated Joe Lieberman, pictured here during a July 6 NBC 30 debate, in the August 8 Democratic primary

The 2006 election of a United States Senator from the state of Connecticut will be held on November 7 2006, with the winner serving a six-year term from January 3 2007 to January 3 2013. After a heated August 8 primary between incumbent three-term Democratic Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and one-time Greenwich selectman Ned Lamont, Lieberman is now running under the newly formed Connecticut for Lieberman political party for re-election against Lamont, the winner of the Democratic primary. They will also face Republican nominee, former Derby Mayor Alan Schlesinger, Green Party nominee Ralph Ferrucci, as well as Timothy Knibbs of the Concerned Citizens Party. There are two registered write-in candidates, Carl E. Vassar and John M. Joy. DEMOCRATS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Candidates

Democrat: Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont

On August 8, Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont received 52% of the vote in the statewide Democratic Primary for one of Connecticut's seats in the United States Senate. He defeated incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman, who will run in the November election as a petitioning candidate of the Connecticut for Lieberman party line. In order to get onto the primary ballot on May 19, 2006, Lamont received 33% of the vote at the Democratic State Convention, well above the 15% threshold needed to appear on the primary ballot without having to collect signatures.[1] Sean Smith, who at the time was the campaign manager for Senator Lieberman, dismissed his performance, claiming that many delegates at the convention saw the endorsement question as a "free vote" to "register displeasure with Lieberman without it costing them anything," and speculated that those voters would return to Lieberman in the August primary. Lieberman dismissed Smith as his campaign manager the morning after Lieberman's primary defeat on August 8th.[2]

Lamont differs from Lieberman on various issues. He opposes the Iraq War and the USA Patriot Act, supports the right to same-sex marriage, supports universal health care, opposes the recent creditor-friendly changes to U.S. bankruptcy law, opposes federal intervention in cases such as Terri Schiavo's, opposes the federal earmark system (i.e. pork barrel projects), and says he would have led the charge against the Samuel Alito nomination.[3] (Although Lieberman was one of 41 Democrats who voted against the Alito confirmation, he was one of 18 Democrats to vote for cloture. If cloture did not pass, a vote on the confirmation would have been blocked (unless Republicans had taken the controversial step of invoking the so-called "nuclear option").[4][5]

Republican: Alan Schlesinger

Alan Schlesinger

On May 20, 2006, Connecticut Republicans nominated former Derby Mayor Alan Schlesinger. In July, it was revealed that he was involved in inappropriate gambling activities: Schlesinger gambled under the alias "Alan Gold" to avoid detection as a card counter. On July 21, the Hartford Courant reported that Schlesinger had been sued by two New Jersey casinos for gambling debts. Schlesinger quickly faced fire from state party officials and some, including Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell, called on him to withdraw.[6] Connecticut GOP chairman George Gallo has considered previous Republican Senate candidate, Jack Orchulli, as a possible replacement if Schlesinger withdraws.[7] On July 24, however, Courant colummist Kevin Rennie suggested former State Senator Bill Aniskovich of Branford — who was defeated in 2004 while seeking his eighth term — would replace Schlesinger if he withdrew.[8] Other possible replacements include U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor, State Senator John McKinney of Fairfield and Derby state representative Themis Klarides.[9]

Third party candidates

Connecticut for Lieberman: Joe Lieberman

Joe Lieberman

Joe Lieberman, the incumbent three-term senator, is running for his fourth term. Lieberman was Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in the 2000 election. The Gore/Lieberman ticket won the popular vote but controversially lost the electoral college vote to George W. Bush.

After a heated primary, Lieberman was defeated by Lamont 52% to 48%. Soon after his defeat, his campaign submitted the required signatures to run under the new Connecticut for Lieberman Party. While many of his Democratic colleagues have tried to convince him to drop his bid, he has stood firm on his promise to run. The day after losing in the primary Lieberman fired the majority of his campaign staff including his campaign manager[10] in order to include more Republicans in the campaign for the general election.[11]

Green: Ralph Ferrucci

Ralph Ferrucci - Connecticut Green Party nominee, artist, truck driver, 2004 congressional candidate, and 2003 "Guilty Party" New Haven mayoral candidate. Ferrucci received more than 15% of the vote when he challenged New Haven mayor John DeStefano in 2003. Ferrucci has the least amount of money on hand of all the candidates and is the only candidate to publicly state his disapproval over Israel's invasion of Lebanon.[12]

Concerned Citizens: Timothy Knibbs

Timothy Knibbs - Running as the nominee of the Concerned Citizens Party. Also ran for senate in 2004 for Chris Dodd's seat.

Write-in candidates

Carl E. Vassar and John M. Joy

No longer running

  • Herschal Collins - a Vietnam War veteran and frequent litigant, was the first to file for the Senate seat, but has no campaign organization and does not appear to be a serious candidate. He has a lawsuit p
  1. ^ Susan Haigh (2006-05-19). "Lieberman wins nomination, but Lamont forces primary". The Boston Globe. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Chris Cillizza (2006-05-22). "Conn. Senate: Lieberman's Primary Fight Getting More Interesting". Washington Post. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Why Ned Lamont Is a Democrat" - Interview
  4. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture On The Nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr. of New Jersey, To Be An Associate Justice Of The Supreme Court )". U.S. Senate. 2006-01-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Samuel A. Alito, Jr., of New Jersey, to be an Associate Justice )". U.S. Senate. 2006-01-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Susan Haigh (2006-7-13). "Republican U.S. Senate candidate says he won't step aside". The Boston Globe. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Don Michak (2006-07-14). "Orchulli in the wings for Republicans? But Schlesinger insists he won't fold". Journal Inquirer. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Kevin Rennie (2006-07-24). "Will Dole Enter the Fray in Connecticut?". Political Wire. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "The Replacements". Connecticut Local Politics. 2006-07-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Susan Haigh (2006-08-11). "Lieberman Starts Campaign as an Independent As Favorite To Win Senate Race in November". The New York Sun. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-18161522.apds.m0262.bc-ct--connaug18,0,7023684.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire
  12. ^ http://www.politicalgateway.com/cand.php?id=335&page=press&prid=633
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