Lamont Primary Victory Over Connecticut's U.S. Sen. Lieberman Shockwaves through American Party Politics

Interview with Jacob Hacker, Yale University professor of political science, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

The historic defeat of three-term U.S. senator and 2000 vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman by political newcomer Ned Lamont in Connecticut's Democratic primary Aug. 8 has generated international headlines. After his 52 percent to 48 percent loss, Lieberman vowed to run in the general election as an independent, or, as he pledged in his non-concession speech, an "independent Democrat." Although the Democratic Party and almost all elected Democrats in Connecticut and around the nation -- with the exception of a few progressive members of Congress -- endorsed Lieberman in the primary, post-primary endorsements and Democratic Party money are now backing Lamont.

Even though a July poll showed Lieberman handily winning a three-way race against Lamont and a weak Republican candidate, the situation is fluid and seems to be moving in Lamont's direction. One indication is the 14,000 new Democratic voters who registered for the primary, as well as 14,000 independents who switched to the Democratic Party to vote in the primary, the large majority of whom were almost certainly Lamont voters.

Between The Lines' spoke with Jacob Hacker, a professor of political science at Yale University and co-author of the book, "Off Center: The Republican Revolution & the Erosion of American Democracy." He talks about Ned Lamont's primary victory as a bellwether of a realignment now taking place in American party politics.

Jacob Hacker's book, "Off Center: The Republican Revolution & the Erosion of American Democracy" will be published in paperback in September by Yale University Press.

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