Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman’s road back to Washington is being paved, in part, with Republican gold.
Lieberman’s re-election race has received “significant help” from a bevy of President Bush’s backers since losing the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont and opting to run as an independent, it was reported yesterday.
Included among the powerful GOP contributors is Joseph Allbaugh, who was a member of Bush’s inner circle during the 2000 presidential election, the Hartford Courant said.
The paper said two Republican Senate committee chairmen have chipped in, along with Bush pal Melvin Sembler and former assistant Senate leader Don Nickles.
The paper said the GOP cash started to pour in shortly after the senator got a phone call from White House adviser Karl Rove a day before the primary.
Although Rove didn’t promise any support, Republican strategist Scott Reed told the paper it sent a message around Republican circles “to get engaged in the Lieberman race.”
Lieberman’s lead over Lamont was 17 points in the latest Quinnipiac University poll.
With Post Wire Services