"I got elected as an Independent, but I've cast my lot with the Democratic caucus, and so..."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Lieberman 'hopes' Democrats will hold Senate majority, but won't campaign
By Jordan Fabian - 09/14/10 09:17 AM ET

Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman predicted Monday that Democrats will maintain their majority in the Senate, but said he would not take sides in Connecticut's competitive Senate race.

Lieberman, who lost the 2006 Democratic Senate primary to Ned Lamont but still won the general election, said in a speech in the Constitution State that he won't support Democratic Senate nominee Richard Blumenthal or Republican Linda McMahon.

"I've decided it's better for me to concentrate on being a senator, not get involved in any of the political campaigns in Connecticut this year," Lieberman said, according to the Connecticut Mirror. "That's my decision, and I'm enjoying it."

But the four-term senator, who caucuses with the Democrats, expressed hope that the party would maintain its majority so that he could benefit his state.

"I got elected as an Independent, but I've cast my lot with the Democratic caucus, and so obviously, I hope there is a Democratic majority in the Senate after this election, because this directly relates to my ability to do things for the state," he said.

With a nine-senator gap between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, the GOP would need to win virtually every competitive race to take the majority. One of the key battleground races is the contest between Blumenthal and McMahon for retiring Sen. Chris Dodd's (D) seat.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/118579-lieberman-democrats-will-hold-senate-majority