Lieberman says he is "beholden to no one except the voters of Connecticut and my own conscience"

[Herman Munster]

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-lieberman1109.artnov09,0,2242303.story?coll=hc-big-headlines-breaking

On Tuesday night, he described his re-election as a victory of the "mainstream over the extreme," a statement that seemed to put him at odds with Democratic voters, who overwhelmingly backed the anti-war candidacy of Lamont.

"My mission now is really an independent mission," Lieberman said Wednesday, calling his win a mandate to "be beholden to no one except the voters of Connecticut and my own conscience."

At a noon-time press conference in Hartford, he declined to articulate his role in the Connecticut Democratic Party, nor could he give a philosophical reason for organizing with the Senate Democrats.

Other than keeping his seniority, he was asked, what is the reason to organize with the Democrats?

"Well, I've been a Democrat," he replied.

Any reasons beyond that?

"Seniority is an important factor," he said.