When asked if he would consider caucusing with Senate Republicans the day following his election victory over Democratic candidate Ned Lamont, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman said “No.” But when asked Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” if he would consider leaving the Democratic party to become an independent like Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords did when he left the Republican party to in 2001, Lieberman didn’t rule out a swing to the right to give Republicans control of the Senate.
“I’m not ruling it out but I hope I don’t get to that point,” he said. “And I must say—and with all respect to the Republicans who supported me in Connecticut—nobody ever said, ‘We’re doing this because we want you to switch over. We want you to do what you think is right and good for our state and country,’ and I appreciate that,” Lieberman said. Lieberman, elected without the backing of the Democratic Party, said he’s already calling himself an Independent-Democrat. He said he will continue to caucus with the Democrats in order to maintain his seniority. Click here to read Wednesday’s interview with Joe.
