New poll puts Lieberman ahead in Connecticut

A new Quinnipiac poll gives Joe Lieberman a 12-point lead over Ned Lamont -- 53 to 41 -- in Connecticut's Senate race. The Republican candidate, the distinctly lame Alan Schlesinger, lags way behind at four percent.

There's still a long way to go until the election, but Lieberman's strong showing among Republicans could put him over the top unless Lamont is able to eat significantly into his Democratic support. That may yet happen as the election draws near, but the recent Democratic primary showed that Lieberman still has a good deal of support from his own party in his home state. Lamont only won that contest by four points. As well, I suspect that Lieberman will benefit so long as terrorism, an issue that plays to his hawkish bona fides, remains in the news. A key determinant will likely be how much influence external factors -- including terrorism, the Israel-Lebanon-Hezbollah conflict, Iraq, Bush's approval ratings, and the relative popularity of the two parties -- have on the heavily nationalized race in Connecticut.

For now, it seems Joe still has some momentum left in the tank.