He still has a few months to decide, but at the moment U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman said he is “probably” running for re-election in 2012.
“I haven’t decided fully, but I’d say I’m probably going to run again,” Lieberman said. He who won re-election in 2006 as an independent candidate after being defeated in the Democratic primary by now-gubernatorial challenger Ned Lamont.
Lieberman made his remarks at the Hartford Club after a speech to the New England Council about his cyber security legislation.
In an effort to keep his re-election options open, Lieberman said he has started raising money.
Last month at Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington D.C., “Friends of Joe Lieberman” held a fundraiser for the senator.
It is unclear at the moment how much money he may have brought in for a probable re-election bid, but according to his last filing, which covers the period between April and June, the committee brought in about $51,300 and had $1.26 million cash on hand at the close of the reporting period.
“For my own interests, and my family’s interests, and of course the state’s interests after this election I’m going to sit down and take a hard look at it and decide,” Lieberman said. “I feel that I’m involved in some areas trying to help the state bring support from the federal government, which can help our economy and protect our jobs.”
“The question is at this stage in my life do I want to do it one more time,” Lieberman said.
At the moment he seems to be leaning toward another run this time as Connecticut’s senior senator.
U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, whose poll numbers began to dip after a failed presidential bid then further after the Countrywide mortgage debacle, decided in January not to seek re-election, which elevates Lieberman to the senior spot.
As far as tomorrow’s primary goes, Lieberman, who is still registered as a Democrat in Stamford, will cast his ballot privately.
“So far I’m enjoying just being quiet. I don’t know if anybody much cares who I’ll support anyway,” Lieberman quipped. He said he’s not sure he’ll endorse anybody in November, but added “I’ll wait and see. I may just enjoy staying out of the battle. Concentrating on being the best senator I can be and then being ready as now the senior senator in January to try and make peace in the delegation.”
And like so many voters, Lieberman said he’s just as turned off by the negative ads. He said he’s been watching some of the “tough attack advertising and I don’t know if it helps anybody, ultimately.”
“I think it may turn a lot of people off,” Lieberman said.
