NYT: GOP deserting one of its own for Lieberman

RAW STORYPublished: Friday August 18, 2006

"While some Republicans are quietly rooting for his Democratic opponent, Ned Lamont, because they feel he would be such a polarizing liberal target, many leading Republicans say it would serve the party better to have a centrist like Mr. Lieberman remain in office, particularly after being spurned by his own party," according to an article in Saturday's edition of The New York Times.

"Facing Senator Joseph I. Lieberman’s independent candidacy, Republican officials at the state and national level have made the extraordinary decision to abandon their official candidate, and some are actively working to help Mr. Lieberman win in November," writes Anne E. Kornblut for the Times.

"Despite Mr. Lieberman’s position that he will continue to caucus with Democrats if re-elected, all three Republican Congressional candidates in Connecticut have praised Mr. Lieberman and have not endorsed the party’s nominee, Alan Schlesinger," the article continues.

"An independent group with Republican ties is raising money for Mr. Lieberman, who has been a strong supporter of President Bush on the Iraq war," Kornblut writes.

Excerpts from the article:
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But one thing is clear: there is little to no talk of bolstering Mr. Schlesinger, 48, the Republican nominee, a little-known former mayor of Derby who has registered polling numbers so low they are breaking records. Little known throughout the state, Mr. Schlesinger received attention this summer following reports in The Hartford Courant that he had gambled under a fake name and once had gambling debts. He has dismissed the accounts as irrelevant.

Mr. Schlesinger has reacted bitterly to the rejection by his own party, dismissing calls for him to leave the race. He maintains he can win by conveying his conservative platform to voters.

"Washington and the media have attempted to hijack this election and turn it into a referendum on the future of the national Democratic Party," Mr. Schlesinger said in an interview on Friday.

"Their interest is not in electing a Republican in Connecticut, or anyone in particular in Connecticut."
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FULL TIMES ARTICLE AT THIS LINK