2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut

Lieberman was criticized for a lack of commitment to the Democratic Party,[8] opposition to affirmative action;[9] his opposition to a Connecticut state law that would require Catholic hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims,[10] his membership in the bipartisan Gang of 14,[11] his support of Florida Governor Jeb Bush's involvement in the Terri Schiavo case,[12] his initial willingness to compromise on Social Security privatization,[13] alliances with Republicans;[14] and his attacks on other Democrats.A spokesman for Kevin O'Connor, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said, "The investigation has revealed no evidence the problems the website experienced were the result of criminal conduct."[28] Lieberman was backed by the Human Rights Campaign, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Defenders of Wildlife, and Planned Parenthood; he was endorsed by The Hartford Courant, The New Haven Register, and the Connecticut Post.[32] In the Republican primary, Alan Schlesinger drew fire in July when it was revealed that he had been gambling under an alias in order to avoid detection as a card counter.On July 6, 2006, Lamont and Lieberman met in a televised debate held by a Connecticut NBC-TV affiliate and carried live nationally by C-SPAN.[48] After Lieberman's announcement, independent polls showed him favored to win a plurality or outright majority of the vote in a three-way general election."[H]is most vocal support came from places like The Weekly Standard, National Review, and Commentary Magazine; Sean Hannity, Bill Kristol and right-wing radio hosts cheered for his victory."[51] On August 29, Lieberman began airing an ad, "Soothing", featuring images of a sunset over an ocean beach, while a female narrator says "you might enjoy a break from Ned Lamont's negative advertising.[56] Lamont campaign manager Tom Swan criticized the strongly pro-Lieberman city of Waterbury for alleged corruption, calling it a meeting place for "forces of evil".[58] Swan later apologized for the comment, saying it was aimed at former mayor Philip Giordano, who was arrested for sexual crimes with a minor, and former Governor John G. Rowland, a Waterbury native, who was indicted for corruption.[61] On August 11, CNN Headline News anchor Chuck Roberts asked Hotline senior editor John Mercurio about the effects of the recent London terrorist plot on the 2006 Connecticut Senate race: How does this factor into the Lieberman/Lamont contest?Anyway, I wanted to correct the record, and I'm glad we had this chance to do it.Opinion columnist Robert Novak stated that Democratic leaders feared the visible role black activists Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson had at Lamont's primary night rally "might drive Republican, independent and even some Democratic voters into support of Lieberman's independent candidacy."[63] On August 15, 2006, the Stamford Advocate reported that an organization called Vets For Freedom had run full-page ads in the Hartford Courant in support of Lieberman.I was reluctant because I thought it might make matters worse; I was reluctant because nobody expressed moral outrage over how Reagan treated his kids or Gingrich lied about supporting term limits (in other words, it was selective outrage); I was reluctant because the Starr inquisition is much more threatening to our civil liberties and national interest than Clinton's misbehavior ... Lamont then called for Lieberman to "move on" from publicly criticizing Clinton: You have expressed your outrage about the president's conduct; now stand up and use your moral authority to put an end to this snowballing mess.We've made up our minds that Clinton did wrong, confessed to his sin, maybe he should be censured for lying—and let's move on.Lieberman's speech in 1998 had occurred after the President had gone on prime time television to admit his relationship with Lewinsky.[66] In late September, Lamont's campaign aired a controversial television ad that depicted various actors portraying Connecticut voters calling Lieberman a turncoat.