Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

The Political Wire reports that Ned Lamont and Joe Lieberman's scuffle for the Democratic nomination in Connecticut has emboldened Republicans.

Republicans now believe they can be serious players in a Connecticut Senate race for the first time since Lieberman beat gadfly Republican Lowell Weicker in 1988. First they must get through two fights. They need to get Schlesinger to take a powder, and then they must quickly settle on a replacement. Interest in the race grows in Republican circles in Washington, with the National Republican Senate Committee rumored to be licking its chops at torturing left-wing Democrats should Lamont win in August.

The route to victory, locals believe, runs through Schlesinger campaign advisor Richard Foley, a former state party chairman and legislator. He is a consultant to the campaign who won'’t want to give up that sinecure before November'’s certain humiliation of his candidate. Foley has defended his candidate against revelations of his gambling under an assumed name and running up debts that caused Atlantic City casinos to sue him.

Republicans seem to think that Bob Dole is the key to a miraculous win over Progressive Darling Lamont or DINO Joe Lieberman (if they don't just give him the Republican nomination out right.)

Foley was a great supporter of Dole's Presidential runs in 1988 and 1996. With his encouragement and fundraising, a replacement for the soon to be more scandal ridden Schlesinger could be found and a war chest could be quickly filled. Pulling off a stunning victory in a Blue State would be a feather in the cap of Liddy Dole's otherwise lackluster leadership of the Republican Senate re-election effort.

This is the sort of fear that crawls down Democrats spines late at night. Just when we think we're going to elect someone we respect, unseating a Senator out of touch with his constituency, the GOP comes and snatches the seat away. FoxNews trumpets the loss and the myth of the 'inept, incompetent, disorganized Democrats' rides on.

God, if this happens, the depression I felt after Bush won re-election will be right back in the pit of my stomach.

Joe Lieberman Ned Lamont Bob Dole Richard Foley Connecticut Senate 2006 Republicans