Media see message in Senate upset

The press heaped blame on Mr Lieberman for his loss

The US media are buzzing at the defeat of veteran Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman by a political newcomer who campaigned against the Iraq war.

Both the traditional media and the blogosphere see Ned Lamont's victory as the crest of a wave which could well sweep George W Bush's party out of power.

The Hartford Courant of Connecticut - which had endorsed Mr Lieberman - said the result had "flashed a warning to Republicans in November: Watch out.

"The natives are restless. Witness the high turnout. Witness the eye-opening amount of money, media and blogger attention, and voter interest that has flowed across this state's borders from all points on the map.

"What's more, the unprecedented rush of registered unaffiliated voters and new voters to the Democratic Party in Connecticut in recent weeks is a phenomenon that should keep [chief Bush political strategist] Karl Rove awake at night."

The New York Times - which had backed Mr Lamont - saw things slightly differently, as a victory for what it saw as the true political centre.

You hear that, Connecticut? Joe Lieberman will be your senator whether you like it or not - it's for your own good Wonkette

"The rebellion against Mr Lieberman was actually an uprising by that rare phenomenon, irate moderates. They are the voters who have been unnerved over the last few years as the country has seemed to be galloping in a deeply unmoderate direction....

"The middle ground [has] become a place where senators struggle to get the president to volunteer to obey the law when the mood strikes him.

"Attempting to regain the real centre becomes a radical alternative."

Lost his way

Former Bill Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal - who is close to the Democratic party's centrist wing that is also home to Mr Lieberman - said the incumbent was defeated because he had lost touch with his origins.

The man of faith is now running on bad faith Sidney Blumenthal, Salon

"Lieberman was once the most attractive and promising Democrat in his state, his grasp of political realities subtle and sinuous," he wrote in Salon.

"But he became scornful of disagreement, parading himself as a moral paragon to whom voters should be privileged to pay deference. The elevation of his sanctimony was accompanied by the loss of his political sense....

And he blasts Mr Lieberman's decision to stay in the race as an independent: "The man of faith is now running on bad faith.

"Self-righteousness fostered self-delusion, leading to self-destruction. Lieberman's fall is a cautionary tale not limited to Connecticut. "

Attraction of humility

Leading liberal website the Daily Kos was one of the strongest backers of Mr Lamont. As the results came in, its founder Markos "Kos" Moulitsas Zuniga explained what had drawn him to the challenger.

"You know why I liked Lamont, what sold me on him? He had hints of insecurity.

"In politics, you realise that every politician just about oozes ego. You can smell it across the room. But here was a guy who didn't think the world revolved around him as he plotted the most efficient path to the White House.

"He was doing this not out of ego but because he believed in the causes he was fighting for. To me, that was refreshing."

Hard left

Many on the centre-left fretted the Lamont victory would help the Republican party portray the Democrats as "cut-and-run" softies on defence.

But former congressman Joe Scarborough, who came to power as a fervent right-winger with the 1994 Republican revolution, said the opposition should not fall for the siren song of centrism.

Ned Lamont may be a pencil-necked geek... but he is the type of candidate that will bring out the Democratic base in an off-year election Joe Scarborough, Huffington Post

"The conventional wisdom for tonight's Connecticut primary seems to be that a Joe Leiberman loss will yank the Democratic Party so far left as to make other Democratic candidates unelectable this fall. The logic is laughable and similar to what I heard from Republican leaders in 1994," he wrote in the Huffington Post.

"Ned Lamont may be a pencil-necked geek... but he is the type of candidate that will bring out the Democratic base in an off-year election. That is especially true this year because George W Bush is even more unpopular than Clinton was when the [Republicans] swept into power.

"My advice to Democratic voters this year is 'Go left, young man!'

"There may be hell to pay in 2008, but for now the only thing that should matter to you is seizing control of Congress [this year]. Do that for the first time in a decade and then you can start worrying about swing voters in the suburbs."

Finally, Washington blogger Wonkette was stunned by what she saw as the arrogance of Mr Lieberman's announcement that he would run as an independent.

"For the sake of our state, our country and my party, I cannot, I will not let this result stand," Mr Lieberman said in his concession speech.

"You hear that, Connecticut?" Wonkette responded. "Joe Lieberman will be your senator whether you like it or not! It's for your own good."