Political Capitol

U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman held a brief press conference in Washington D.C. today following his meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.

The two are talking Lieberman’s future after the Stamford native and self-described “independent Democrat” campaigned for Repubican John McCain during the just concluded presidential race. Reportedly no decisions were made today.

At stake is Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Government Services and Homeland security Committee and possibly his senior standing within the Senate’s Democratic caucus.

In a phone interview yesterday, Greenwich Democrat Ned Lamont, who won the party’s primary against Lieberman in 2006 but lost the general election to the incumbent, declined to weigh in on whether his former opponent should be punished by his colleagues.

And, Lamont suspected, it might not come to that.

“I think Senator Lieberman feels a lot more comfortable in the Republican column,” he said. “It used to be just about foreign policty but it’s now on a wider variety of issues. My hunch is he will slip over to the Republican side very soon. I don’t think anybody has to push.”

State Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, became the first Asian-American member of the General Assembly when he was elected in 2006.

Tong, who won another term yesterday, is pleased he will no longer be the only Asian-American heading up to the capitol in Hartford when the legislature reconvenes in January.

New Rep. Tony Hwang of Bridgeport is one of the state Republican Party’s few success stories, defeating incumbent Tom Christiano, D-Trumbull.

Tong called Hwang “a nice guy.”

“It is neat. It really is,” he said.

In an interview today, House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, contributed the state GOP’s poor showing in yesterday’s elections to the success of Democratic President-Elect Barack Obama.

Cafero, who was tapped by fellow legislators in 2006 to lead the House Republicans, saw his caucus dwindle from the already small “fightin’ 44″ as they are called to 37 going into the 2009 session.

“I do not read this as a rejection of the core beliefs that we as Connecticut Republicans have,” Cafero told me.

But retiring House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, who hopes to run for Governor in two years, said Cafero is in denial.

“Is he going to wait until there’s three people in his caucus to say what we’re doing hasn’t been working?” Amann said.

He then quoted talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw.

“Dr. Phil says it best. ‘How’s it working for you Larry’?” Amann said. “It hasn’t worked.”

After failing to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman in 2006, some thought Greenwich resident and entrepreneur Ned Lamont might seek another route to Washington D.C. by challenging Republican U.S. Congressman Christopher Shays.

But instead it was another Greenwich Democrat, Jim Himes, who rose to the occasion and last night succeeded where so many others failed, soundly defeating Shays in the 4th Congressional District.

Lamont spent the race helping to coordinate Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Connecticut.

So did he experience a bit of regret last night as Himes made local history?

Lamont said Himes is “an ideal person” for the job and he was never interested in opposing Shays.

“I had just come from a pretty long campaign with Senator Lieberman. I’m a guy that’s run his own company for 20 years. I just wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with Congress. I’m 54. Jim’s young. He’s got a great political future and Congress should be a stepping stone,” Lamont said. “I think it all worked out for the better, let’s put it that way.”

“First, I want to congratulate Barack Obama on his victory tonight. The people of America have shown clearly that they want change. I also think America voted today to regain its sense of direction. I am hopeful that with this new leadership comes new energy and new solutions to the difficult challenges facing our country.”

“The national economy continues to be cause for great concern as families struggle in ways they never have before. Our middle class – the backbone of this nation – has had its sense of security badly shaken. Americans are looking for the new direction that change promises and it will now be up to the new President to deliver on that promise.”

“Each election brings a time of renewal, a time of hope and an opportunity to lead. The new President and the new Congress will be immediately tested by our challenging economy. Right now, America needs the strong leadership that only a commitment to bipartisanship can provide.“

“The citizens of Connecticut deserve the same. The time for campaigning has ended and the task of balancing our state budget begins. Our economic issues transcend party politics. When the new Legislature convenes in January, both Democrats and Republicans will have to do the arithmetic. The election is now over and it is time to put Connecticut first. It is time to govern – and that work starts today.”

I actually have my mom to thank for this.

Speaking to her just after Democrat Barack Obama made history tonight, my mom referred to my previous post on what it will mean for U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman’s political future.

What I didn’t know when I posted those comments is the Goodwin Hotel, where Lieberman celebrated his victory over Ned Lamont two years ago, is, according to today’s Hartford Courant, closing.

Two years ago I was at the Goodwin Hotel in Hartford when U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman resurrected his political career and won the general election despite losing the Democratic Party’s primary.

In launching his third party bid to keep his seat, Lieberman angered many long-time supporters who a few years prior had proudly cheered his nomination as Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate. But he banked on Republicans and unaffiliated voters returning him to office in 2006, and, with some Democrats, they did.

“I will go to Washington beholden to no political group, only to the people of Connecticut and my conscience,” the triumphant Senator told the crowd of supporters and the media that election night.

I’m sure that was a tense day for him. Perhaps internal polls had the Senator well-ahead of Greenwich businessman and Democrat Ned Lamont. But no one feels truly confident until the results are final.

And losing not only the primary but then the general election would have been such an embarrassment for Lieberman. It would have meant a complete rejection by the state he had served for so many years, so his decision to fight for his seat was a major gamble.

Although Lieberman is not up for re-election this year, his political future is again on the line tonight.

He caucused with the Democrats in the closely divided Senate following his return to Washington D.C. in 2006. But Lieberman then decided to endorse friend Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, in his bid for president.

And his efforts for McCain did not end there. Lieberman has played an active role in the campaign, speaking at the Republican National Convention, defending the choice of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, and visiting battleground states on McCain’s and Palin’s behalf.

When McCain delivered his final campaign speech in Colorado today, Lieberman was standing behind him.

A McCain loss tonight will be a personal blow for Lieberman, who had hoped his cross-endorsement would lure some Democrats and unaffiliated voters to the GOP ticket. But a significant Democratic victory could make Lieberman less of a factor in Congress. He could also face repercussions from his party.

So while most of the attention tonight is on the presidential race, you’ve got to wonder what’s going through the mind of Connecticut’s junior senator as he again sweats the results of another political gamble.

U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the self-described “independent Democrat” from Stamford, will not return home to vote Tuesday.

Lieberman has been on the campaign trail supporting Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain’s bid for president.

“He voted by absentee,” Lieberman spokesman Erika Masonhall said via e-mail, adding: “He voted for McCain.”