Connecticut Incumbents Face Close Elections for Supporting Iraq War

GWEN IFILL: Now, deep into the summer, leading up to an August 8th Democratic primary, it's clear Lieberman Democrats, like Pat Carolan, have already jumped ship.

Why did you change your mind?

PAT CAROLAN, Connecticut Resident: The war in Iraq.

GWEN IFILL: Really?

PAT CAROLAN: That's the whole issue. Yes, he's dead wrong on that issue, so...

GWEN IFILL: No other issue, that's it?

PAT CAROLAN: That's it.

GWEN IFILL: He's just wrong?

PAT CAROLAN: He's wrong. He's wrong. The president's wrong; he's wrong.

GWEN IFILL: Al Simon, another Democrat, went so far as to organize a Democratic committee vote in his hometown of Windsor censuring Lieberman.

AL SIMON, Connecticut Resident: The war is a disaster, and there is nobody that I know in my circle who thinks that it's the right thing to do. Most of us thought it was bad from the start, but it's turned into such an unmitigated disaster that someone who doesn't recognize facts and refuses to change an opinion really seems to be out of touch with reality. That's what's changed.

GERRY VITOLO, Connecticut Resident: This is beautiful. Look at this.

GWEN IFILL: And then there are old friends, Gerry Vitolo and Loretta Winter, stanch Democrats who have always voted for Lieberman but now disagree.

LORETTA WINTER, Connecticut Resident: I am disappointed in his support of the war.

GWEN IFILL: Does that mean that you'll vote for his opponent this time?

LORETTA WINTER: Yes.

GWEN IFILL: Why? He's been your senator for 18 years.

LORETTA WINTER: I know, but, you know, it might be just time for a change.

GERRY VITOLO: I like Lieberman, and I still like him, even though I know -- I know he voted for the war, he's in favor of the war, but a lot of people were after all the horror of 9/11. And I just trust him, because there's so much corruption in government today, and I just somehow feel that I don't think he could be corrupted.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN: I'm in a battle, so I love hearing that. Thank you.

CONNECTICUT RESIDENT: I'm behind you...

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN: Thank you so much.

I'll tell you the truth, I hear all sides about Iraq. For instance, a whole bunch of people here today said, "I agree with you on Iraq. And don't be pushed into saying something other than what you believe is right for the safety of our country."

Sometimes I meet people who say, "You know, I don't agree with you on Iraq, but I know you're taking that position sincerely, and I'm so grateful for everything else you've done for the state that I'm going to vote for you."

And there are some people who say, "I don't agree with you on Iraq. And it's so important to me that, notwithstanding all the other things I agree with you on, I'm going to vote against you." Well, that's their right. I think they're making a mistake, but that's their right.

The war on terrorism is real. There's an enemy out there, radical Islamist terrorism that has attacked us and will again, and Iraq is all part of that. So it's very important to talk about it. People want to, and I'm happy to.

GWEN IFILL: Chris Shays is in an even tighter spot. A Republican in a traditionally Democratic district, he's been elected to the House nine times by voters who are now adamantly against the war.

CONNECTICUT RESIDENT: Over 2,000 troops have already died. Over 18,000 have been wounded.

GWEN IFILL: A June Quinnipiac University poll showed 63 percent of the state's voters believe going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do. Political scientist Doug Schwartz.

DOUG SCHWARTZ, Pollster: Connecticut is bluer than the rest of the nation. We are more Democratic, and we are more against the war than the rest of the country.

GWEN IFILL: But Shays says he is not backing down.

I read a story that said that your mother left you a note and told you to stop talking about Iraq.

REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), Connecticut: It really bugged me, even my own mother.

GWEN IFILL: Well, why?

REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS: Well, because I think my mom is afraid I'll lose the election. I mean, I just don't think that's the appropriate issue. I don't think it's the appropriate question.

I mean, I believe that we are fighting a noble cause. I've been there 12 times. I was the first there; I have been there more than any other member. I have gone outside the umbrella of the military four of the 12 times.

I've spoken to individual Iraqis. We made some huge mistakes, and we dug a deep hole, but making mistakes does not justify leaving prematurely.

GWEN IFILL: Shays' position just doesn't wash for Democrat Jim O'Donnell, who always crossed party lines to support Shays.

Do you consider yourself a Democrat or a Republican?

JIM O'DONNELL, Connecticut Resident: I consider myself a Democrat, yes.

GWEN IFILL: But you voted for Chris Shays?

JIM O'DONNELL: I did.

GWEN IFILL: Why?

JIM O'DONNELL: Because he appeared to be an independent thinker.

GWEN IFILL: He's a big supporter of the war. Can you vote for him?

JIM O'DONNELL: Not again.

GWEN IFILL: If it were up to the challengers in these races, no one would talk about anything but Iraq, but the question is: Can they keep the subject where they want it?

DIANE FARRELL, Candidate for House of Representatives: I'm Diane Farrell. I'm the one running for Congress on the Democratic ticket.

GWEN IFILL: Democrat Diane Farrell is hoping to unseat Congressman Shays in the November general election.

NED LAMONT, Candidate for United States Senate: My name is Ned Lamont. I'm running for Senate. I'm challenging Joe Lieberman.

GWEN IFILL: Ned Lamont is taking on Senator Lieberman in the Democratic primary. Both are working overtime to tap into anti-war discontent.

NED LAMONT: I'm challenging him on the war, challenging him on our priorities here in this country.

GWEN IFILL: Lamont, a millionaire, is spending part of his fortune telling anti-war Democrats they have a choice.

NED LAMONT: Joe Lieberman sincerely supports the invasion. He sincerely supports the continued stay-the-course strategy. He's talked about leaving our troops there for years more. He's a man of integrity; I don't question that. He sincerely supports a bad policy.

GWEN IFILL: Perhaps people just believe he believes what he believes and that's OK?

NED LAMONT: Not if you're wrong. Not if you see the way it's harmed our country. Not if you see what it's done to our international standing around the world. That's not good enough. Being sincere in your wrong-headed beliefs, we demand more than that.

GWEN IFILL: Farrell nearly beat Shays two years ago, winning 48 percent of the vote.

DIANE FARRELL: When I contrast 2004 to 2006, very simply, the issues haven't gone away; in fact, they've intensified.

GWEN IFILL: The prevailing emotion, according to Farrell...

DIANE FARRELL: Oh, extreme frustration. The best example I can give is I was at a parade on Memorial Day weekend, and a World War II veteran came up to me. And not even a member of my own party, but he knew who I was.

He put his hands squarely on my shoulders, and he said, "Do you realize that we were in and out of World War II at a faster pace than we find ourselves today in Iraq?"

And here's a gentleman who you would assume would be predisposed to be supporting the military option that the administration has exercised, and yet even he sees the lack of a plan.