US News
Democratic senator could lose nomination for siding with Bush
By DPA
Aug 8, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman is facing a stiff challenge to win his party's nomination in state of Connecticut after strongly backing US President George W Bush's policy on Iraq.

Polls show that Lieberman, who ran as Al Gore's vice presidential candidate in 2000, trails rival Ned Lamont by double digits in the Democratic primary scheduled for Tuesday.

Lieberman strongly backed Bush's decision to invade Iraq in March 2003. In recent days, Lieberman cited his record of criticizing the Bush administration for mistakes in Iraq while maintaining his vote to support the war was correct.

Lieberman has also argued that he worked hard against Bush's domestic policies.

Lieberman has indicated that he will run as an independent if he loses the nomination - a move that makes Democratic party strategists uneasy, since it could split the Democratic vote in favour of the Republican candidate.

Republicans still hold sway in both houses of Congress, but Democrats are banking on increasing public criticism of the war in Iraq to help erode that strength.