By Andrew L. Jaffee

Joe Lieberman was a Democrat I could’ve voted for, but he’s an independent now, dumped by his own party. Was Lieberman’s loss to Ned Lamont in Connecticut’s Democratic primary evidence of discomfort with the Iraq war (a valid concern the way things are going there), confirmation that the party is moving even further left, or indication that Connecticut is a hopelessly “blue” state chock full o’ limousine liberal nuts? Maybe there’s still hope for Connecticut. From the BBC’s coverage of Tuesday’s elections:

In Connecticut, Senator Joseph Lieberman - running as an independent after he lost the Democratic primary - maintains a lead over anti-war Democratic challenger Ned Lamont, polls suggest.

NPR states:

In the Connecticut senate race, polls show incumbent Joe Lieberman, who’s running as an independent, leading Ned Lamont, who beat Lieberman in the Democratic primary. According to the latest poll from Quinnipiac University, Lieberman has surged ahead. He holds a 17-point lead over Lamont among likely voters.

Lieberman is looking particularly strong among Republican voters — he also holds a lead over Alan Schlesinger, the Republican whom the state and national party has plainly ignored.

Republicans, Democrats, independents — who cares? A win by Lieberman would reaffirm my faith in the democratic process, and show that Americans want politics to move to the center, and away from partisan mud-slinging.