Lieberman Weighs Campaign As Independent

Marcia Lieberman, lower left, mother of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., watches as her son addresses a crowd of supporters at the Statehouse in Concord, N.H., in this Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 file photo. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) (Jim Cole - AP)

Quinnipiac University polls show Lamont's support among Democrats increasing from 19 percent in May to 32 percent in June. Lieberman's support in the same period fell from 65 percent to 57 percent.

Lieberman maintains high ratings among Republicans and unaffiliated voters, however, and Unaffiliated voters are the state's largest voting bloc, followed by Democrats and Republicans.

The poll also found that if Lieberman runs an unaffiliated campaign, he would win with 56 percent of the vote, compared with 18 percent for Lamont and 8 percent for Republican Alan Schlesinger.

Schlesinger predicted that he would win a three-way race.

"Joe Lieberman first said that he's the best Democrat. Then he tells some people he's the best Republican," Schlesinger said. "So what's he going to do now, tell the people he's the best independent?"

Lieberman has until Aug. 9 _ the day after the Democratic primary _ to collect 7,500 signatures from registered voters to land on the November ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. Experts have said his petition drive during the primary could further annoy Democrats who already question his party loyalty.

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Associated Press Writers Andrew Miga in Washington and Karen Testa in Boston contributed to this report.