Big Union Switches From Lieberman to Lamont

The campaign of Democratic Senatorial nominee Ned Lamont received another big boost today -- and Independent candidate Joe Lieberman received a corresponding slap -- when one of Connecticut's biggest labor unions dropped Lieberman and formally switched its support to Lamont.

Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) had earlier supported Lieberman but decided to make the change after paying "close attention to the remarks of both men" since the August 8 Democratic primary.

"We saw Lieberman moving closer and closer to Bush while Ned Lamont held firm in his strong opposition to the direction Bush is taking us," said Sal Luciano, executive director of Council 4, in a press release. "In the end, our delegates realized that it boiled down to a simple question: Which candidate will stand up to George Bush and Dick Cheney. That candidate is Ned Lamont and only Ned Lamont."

AFSCME's Council 4, which represents over 35,000 state and federal employees in Connecticut, made the announcement on Sunday after weeks of lobbying by both candidates.

"The Bush administration is driving this country into a ditch," Luciano said. "We're spending $250 million a day on the war in Iraq while doling out billions of dollars in corporate welfare and tax breaks for the rich. That's money we should invest in education, healthcare and job creation. And that's why we're supporting Ned Lamont."

"This is great news for the Lamont campaign for Senate," said Tom Swan, Lamont's campaign manager. "It shows Lamont continuing to gain support while Lieberman continues to lose support."

I stand by my original prediction that, between events like this and the difficulty in finding enthusiastic Democrats to work for him, Lieberman will not be in this race on election day -- and may be out by the middle of October.

Meanwhile, the Lamont campaign has released another of their excellent "turncoat" television ads. Here it is.