Lamont Questions Lieberman's Spending

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speak at a news conference Friday, Oct. 20, 2006, in New London, Conn. Collins endorsed Lieberman, who is running as an independent against Ned Lamont. (AP Photo/Jack Sauer) (Jack Sauer - AP)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Ned Lamont's campaign says Sen. Joe Lieberman has failed to account for $387,000 in petty cash his campaign spent days before the state's August Democratic primary.

"Whenever this much cash is floating around it certainly raises suspicions of possible vote buying and other potentially illegal activities that the Lieberman campaign must answer," said Liz Dupont-Diehl, a Lamont spokeswoman. "It is crucial for the public to know what they were doing with this slush fund."

The Lieberman camp denied any wrongdoing.

Lieberman spokeswoman Tammy Sun said Sunday the cash was paid to field coordinators who then distributed money to workers who were canvassing. The payments to workers, many of them students, ranged from $50 to $100 per day, Sun added.

"This is just another reckless charge from a desperate campaign that is obsessed with reliving the primary," said Lieberman spokeswoman Tammy Sun. "The fact is, our attorney has assured us that the petty cash expenditures and the rest of our FEC report is in full compliance with the law's disclosure requirements just as every campaign Joe Lieberman has run for the last 18 years has been."

Lamont defeated Lieberman in the primary for the Democratic nomination to fill Lieberman's Senate seat. Running as an independent after losing the primary, Lieberman has a 17-point lead in the race with about two weeks remaining, according to the latest statewide poll.

The Lamont camp cited at least 10 petty cash payments to volunteers from July 25 to Aug. 7, the day before the primary. The largest was $135,000 on Aug. 4. There was a $75,000 payment on Aug. 7.

The payments are listed in Lieberman's primary campaign spending report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Lamont aides said they were exploring the possibility of filing complaints with the FEC or the Internal Revenue Service.

"The campaign is considering all of its options, including whether the activities of the Lieberman campaign violated campaign finance and tax laws," Dupont-Diehl said.