Pro-war Senator loses nomination

Senator Joe Lieberman, who angered Democratic voters with his staunch support of the war in Iraq, on Tuesday narrowly lost his party8217;s nomination to Ned Lamont, an antiwar candidate who was virtually unknown seven months ago.

Senator Joe Lieberman, who angered Democratic voters with his staunch support of the war in Iraq, on Tuesday narrowly lost his party8217;s nomination to Ned Lamont, an antiwar candidate who was virtually unknown seven months ago.

Lieberman is only the fourth incumbent Senator to lose his party8217;s nomination since 1980. He promised to run for a fourth term as an Independent candidate.

8216;8216;The old politics of polarisation won today,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;For the sake of our state, our country and my party, I cannot and will not let that result stand.8217;8217;

The race, initially predicted as a blowout victory for Lieberman, became a lesson in how the war in Iraq has reshaped partisan politics. In Lamont8217;s headquarters, a jubilant crowd celebrated an upset win that, last year, would not have seemed possible.

Lamont thanked Lieberman for 8216;8216;the grace and dignity with which he has served our state for many years,8217;8217; and vowed to act for change.

8216;8216;Some call Connecticut 8216;the land of steady habits.8217; Connecticut voters do not call for change lightly, but today we called for change decisively,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;No more 8216;stay the course8217;: Stay the course is not a winning strategy in Iraq, and it is not a winning strategy in America.8217;8217;

Lamont, a wealthy cable executive, led Lieberman by less than four percentage points, with 51.79 per cent of the vote to Lieberman8217;s 48.21 per cent. Several of his supporters said they hoped Lamont8217;s win will prove to be a transforming moment for the Democratic Party.

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An independent Lieberman campaign will force an awkward choice for state Democratic leaders: Fully shift their support to the novice politician who has the party8217;s backing, or support Lieberman. Most prospective Lamont voters have said they were supporting him out of dislike for Lieberman.

Ellen Barry