|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Could Charlie Crist in 2010 Be a Repeat of Joe Lieberman in 2006?
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | Monsieur |
| Last Edited | Monsieur Apr 22, 2010 07:19am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Speculative |
| Author | Arian Campo-Flores |
| News Date | Tuesday, April 20, 2010 01:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | As speculation that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will run for U.S. Senate as an independent reaches a fever pitch, it's worth revisiting Sen. Joe Lieberman's independent run in 2006. Consider the parallels. Back then, Lieberman was attacked by Democrats for embracing (allegedly kissing, actually) a Republican president and enabling the most loathed element of that president's agenda (the Iraq War). In the current cycle, Crist has been attacked by Republicans for embracing (half-hugging, really) a Democratic president and enabling the most loathed element of that president's agenda (the stimulus package).
There are other similarities, too. Lieberman was challenged by an upstart, Ned Lamont, who came from nowhere, hammered him for playing footsie with Republicans, ignited a grassroots rebellion among hard-core Democrats, and drove Lieberman from the party. Crist has had to contend with Marco Rubio, who materialized unexpectedly, attacked him for collaborating with Democrats, ignited a grassroots rebellion among Republican conservatives, and may be on the brink of driving Crist from the GOP.
So does Lieberman, who ended up beating Lamont by 7 points, offer Crist a recipe for success? Possibly. The Connecticut senator won by assembling a coalition of Democrats, independents, and Republicans. He established his distance from President Bush and focused on statewide concerns. He played up his seniority and experience. And he positioned himself above the partisan fray, casting Lamont as a "partisan polarizer" and an ideological extremist. "Parties are important, but they're not as important as the public interest, and the national interest," Lieberman said at the time. That posture suited him well, allowing him to embrace his centrism and remain unbeholden to the left wing of the Democratic Party. "This race as an independent has been liberating," he said on the eve of his victory. |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
