Lieberman Pushes Unity in New Ad

Connecticut Democratic Senate candidate Ned Lamont gives a speech on world security at the Yale University Law School, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006, in New Haven, Conn. Lamont said the U.S. is weaker because of an unnecessary war in Iraq backed by rival Sen. Joe Lieberman and he called for shifting forces to combatting terrorism in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/ Michelle McLoughlin) (Michelle Mcloughlin - AP)

WASHINGTON -- A simple chalkboard is Sen. Joe Lieberman's latest television ad prop while Democratic rival Ned Lamont opts for a fairy tale in a new radio ad.

Lieberman, the Democratic primary loser who is running as an independent, is trying to convince voters party labels don't mean much in addressing Connecticut's problems.

The opening scene in the 30-second spot is a blackboard with the handwritten words "Democrats" and "Republicans" separated by a line. A narrator asks how problems such as keeping America safe, children's health care and saving Connecticut jobs can be solved.

Lieberman walks to the blackboard and erases the line between the party names, and says: "By reaching across party lines and standing up for what's right. That's how."

The centrist Democrat needs the backing of Connecticut's independent and Republican voters in his bid for a fourth term. Lieberman faces Lamont and Alan Schlesinger, a GOP candidate who has received little support from the national GOP.

The Lamont camp argued that Lieberman has not been a strong fighter on vital issues such as health care and instead has cozied up to Republicans in Washington.

"It's too bad he has aligned himself with Republicans such as Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and George Bush," said Lamont spokeswoman Liz Dupont-Diehl.

Lieberman's campaign said it is spending about $160,000 this week to air two television commercials statewide. His previous ad also claims he's risen above partisan politics on issues such as jobs and saving a submarine base in the state.

Lamont's ad, one of two radio spots the campaign is spending about $60,000 to air statewide, features a child's music box tune to highlight the argument that Lieberman has lost his way as a Democrat.

"Once upon a time there was a Democratic senator ... But as he went further, he lost his path," an announcer says. "He stopped hearing the ones who elected him, and started listening to those more powerful than he." Voice clips of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney follow.