In New Hampshire, Senate Candidate Swett Sours On Lieberman
For months now, Katrina Swett, a longtime New Hampshire Democratic activist seeking the nomination to run against first-term GOP Senator John Sununu, has been taking a heavy beating from the netroots and from liberal activists. They fault her for her vocal and repeated support of Joe Lieberman's independent re-election bid last year — something that's badly compromised her efforts to compete in the Senate primary.
Now, however, Swett appears to have changed her tune on Lieberman. Her campaign has just confirmed to us that she's reconsidered her support for the Connecticut Senator. Details after the jump.
Last week, a comment was posted by a reader at the Blue Hampshire Web site by someone saying she'd received the following e-mail from Swett in response to a question about the candidate's pro-Lieberman history:
Thanks for getting in touch through the website. We are always eager to know what is on the minds of voters out there; it helps us ensure that we're running a campaign for the people of New Hampshire.I have known Joe Lieberman for a long time and, while he is a friend of mine, I certainly do not agree with him on a lot of issues - especially Iraq. I do find myself disagreeing with him more and more frequently these days. This doesn't change the fact that we are friends, but it does change my support of him as a politician.
Thanks again for getting in touch.
We just checked in with the Swett campaign, and political director Meagan Coffman confirmed that Katrina Swett did indeed send the letter. We'll be keeping in touch with the Swett campaign for more details about her conversion; we'll keep you posted.
Late Update: We have been informed that the person who posted the comment on Blue Hampshire is a woman. Our original post used a male pronoun to refer to the commenter.
I imagine that the "It might be time to bomb Iran" tune that Joe has started singing has probably, finally, made it clear to everyone yearning for bipartisan politicians that Joe is, and has been, anything but "bipartisan" when it comes to Iraq and Iran.
June 18, 2007 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if her shift in stance is sincere, or if she is doing it for poltiical expediency. After all, she has to know, she won't win the primary by advocating a HoJo like, more war is good policy.
June 18, 2007 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too little, too late. If she just now saw something wrong about Joe she doesn't belong in the Senate as a Democrat. "Moderation" is a non sequitur in Bush's America. You either fight or accept the final death of American freedom and democracy.
June 18, 2007 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I try to be more realistic than facilely cynical about campaigns, but this really smacks of a consultant telling her "you've gotta break with Lieberman now publicly if you're going to go anywhere".
June 18, 2007 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
However, would she go against her father (Tom Lantos) if he wanted the US to attack Iran due to his maybe over-protectiveness of Israel?
Why is there so much nepotism in politics - yuk!
June 18, 2007 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that Swett, a DLC candidate, is understandably worried by the entrance into the Democratic Primary by Jay Buckey. She was not at all worried by Steve Marchand, a product of the Chamber of Commerce, but now that a true Democrat has entered the race she is troubled and is distancing herself from the putative leader of the DLC. It is a politically expedient move and probably means no more or less than that.
Swett is the spouse of Dick Swett and is a Mormon. She is no doubt hoping that Romney will carry her through but from my perspective she has no core, no substance and no reason for running other than she can because of her access to money and Sununu is an easy target at this point.
If, by some miracle, she won the Democratic nomination her past fundraising problems would no doubt sink her and we would once again be stuck with Bush worshiper Sununu.
June 18, 2007 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you'd been at the New Hampshire Democratic Party state convention two weeks ago, you would be in no doubt that the opponent Swett is worried about is Steve Marchand, who she mentioned repeatedly in her convention speech.
Buckey has yet to show any ability at all to put together a solid campaign, and until he answers persistent rumors about his positions on choice, he's not running to anybody's left.
June 18, 2007 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
This just in: Katrina Swett is searching for her political pulse.
June 18, 2007 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Next thing you know presidents' wives and kids will be running for the White House.
June 18, 2007 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
If her judgment was so poor that she supported Lieberman in the first place, she has no running for Senate.
Further, in discussing his stance on abortion in Massachusett Mitt Romney reported that he had the approval of the Brethren to take that stance since he couldn't win in such a liberal state without it.
So has the Mormon Church soured on Lieberman or is this her own idea?
And what is her record, if any, on choice? I have very little interest in whatever any politician may be currently saying. At this point I want a record not a recording.
June 18, 2007 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
MissLaura Jay Buckey has only just announced so to question his ability to put a campaign together is a mite premature.
As for his position on choice, it is quite clear. He does support a women's right to choose and he supports an unchanged Roe He also believes in contraception and education. He was very clear with me when I spoke with him about this most vital issue.
June 18, 2007 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
giggle.
June 18, 2007 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do not believe her refutation of Lie-er-man's politics. Sorry; it sounds too much like Lie-er-man, himself.
June 18, 2007 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear Katrina Swett,
I still have a few of my now collectors Item "Kiss Buttons" and am willing to part with one or two as soon as you KISS MY BIG WHITE ASS!!
Sincerly,
ctkeith
June 18, 2007 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The friend of my Lieberman is my enemy.
thosethingswesay.blogspot.com
June 18, 2007 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I wonder if her shift in stance is sincere, or if she is doing it for poltiical expediency"
Funny. She's a politician dude. If her lips are moving she's lying.
It's pretty simple man....
June 18, 2007 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
And what makes this really stupid is that people who hate Lieberman (i.e. Democrats) aren't going to believe her, people who like Lieberman will call her a sell out, and the undecideds will simply think she's got no soul of her own.
June 18, 2007 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ms. Sweet,
If you're so stupid that you didn't recognize the true Holy Joe Lieberman over a year ago, then tough luck lady.
Don't look for netroots support now that you want to get our support. YOU STUCK US WITH LIEBERMAN, now you pay the price.
June 18, 2007 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
One thing in favor of Swett.
Her husband's campaign T-shirts, which read "Dick Swett 1998" are the BEST ironic punk rock gear.
thosethingswesay.blogspot.com
June 18, 2007 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
The "he" who shared the e-mail with Blue Hampshire was me, and I am not a "he." But details, details. I had been discussing the senate candidates with a friend, and we sort of decided it would be good to ask her what the scoop was with the Lieberman thing. I did mention in my e-mail to her, to which the above quote was a response, that I was a town chair and slightly influential in my part of NH.
Some of us NH women Democrats are having a hard time with the woman candidate thing this year. We love Carol Shea Porter, who is just a real person, but Hillary and Katrina give us pause. Which is very frustrating. Should be an interesing year.
June 18, 2007 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're all interested in New Hampshire news so thanks!
Yes, Hillary Clinton gives me pause. I think those 50% disapproval ratings she has now will go up and by November 2008, if she's the nominee, she could be at 65% disapproval, which concerns me for Democratic candidates down ballot. The "family dynasty" issue gets talked about on the internet but never in the press. When voters are directed to think about Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton, it will make Hllary Clinton look greedy.
June 18, 2007 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink