Joe Lieberman Retires

Democrat/Independent Joe Lieberman is not seeking a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.

From the Washington Post:

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) will not seek a fifth term in 2012, according to two Democratic sources familiar with the decision.

Lieberman's office did not offer any comment on his plans, saying only that he would make an announcement tomorrow in Stamford, Conn. "The Senator's remarks tomorrow will stand on their own," said a Lieberman spokeswoman.

Lieberman will be the second senator who caucuses with Democrats to make public his plans to leave the chamber in the past 24 hours. On Tuesday morning, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad said he would not seek a fifth term in 2012.

...Lieberman's long-awaited decision means an end to a political career that took him from the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nomination to a 2004 Democratic presidential candidacy to a speaking role at the 2008 Republican National Convention in support of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Lieberman's increased alienation from the Democratic Party -- primarily over his ardent support for the war in Iraq -- led to his defeat at the hands of cable television executive Ned Lamont in 2006. But Lieberman formed his own independent party and beat Lamont in a general election to win a fourth term.

His numbers among Democrats only declined since that time, however, making it next-to-impossible for Lieberman to run and win as a Democrat in 2012.

The Dems consider Lieberman's plans to retire to be good news because he won't be splitting the Dem vote.

Still, even though Lieberman won't be in the race, he does have supporters, people with more moderate leanings put off by liberals like Ned Lamont.

I think it's a mistake for the Left to assume that Lieberman Democrats and Independents will automatically vote for a Dem.

Remember Massachusetts and Scott Brown?