The Note: Friends and Enablers

— -- WASHINGTON, August 8

Sen. Joe Lieberman's (D-CT) fate will be decided today as Connecticut Democrats take to the polls to choose their party's Senate nominee. Polls opened at 6:00 am ET and close at 8:00 pm ET.

Voters are choosing between Lieberman, who is the fight of/for his political life, and political newcomer Ned Lamont, in a race that has largely been about Lieberman's support for the Iraq war, about that famous embrace of President Bush, about the battle for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, and about which political reporters can cram the most clichés into their copy.

There are no pooled network exit polls. The Connecticut Legislation and Elections website (LINK and LINK) will be updated continually, as soon as information comes in. The state is using a brand new system, which may or may not work. Should the system not work, officials are prepared with a spreadsheet and the site should be updated at roughly fifteen minute intervals with results.

Lever machines will dominate in today's primary, with a smattering of optical scan voting places. And here is a chart, courtesy of the excellent folks at the AP, detailing the timing of the reporting of results on election night in 2004 to use as a guide for tonight.

First Reports from Counties: 8:35 pm ET

20% of Precincts Statewide by: 10:00 pm ET

90% of Precincts Statewide by: 1:01 am ET (Wednesday)

100% of Precincts Statewide by: 9:44 am ET (Wednesday)

Given all the new voters who signed up, and the fact that this is a new August primary in the state, it is not clear at all what the early returns will mean and who will benefit from the vote that is still "out" at any given moment, so The Note recommends an afternoon nap.

If the race is super close, outstanding ballots, including from overseas, could lead to the kind of Florida/overtime situation with which at least one of the candidates is quite familiar.

If Lieberman pulls it out, get ready for the bloggers to explain why they still won. If Lieberman loses, get ready for a lot of national and Connecticut Democrats to argue (publicly and privately) that he shouldn't run as an independent -- and get ready for a Joe-ment of truth, as the incumbent decides if he wants to ignore those calls.

Channeling Lieberman adviser Dan Gerstein, Cynthia McKinney's campaign manager, John Evans, says it best in this morning's Los Angeles Times: "It's like when you have a room full of roaches: You go in, turn the light on and they scatter. When people think you're weak, they defect. Only the true at heart stick around."

Sen. Lieberman makes six campaign stops across the Nutmeg State today after he and his family vote at 9:30 am ET in New Haven, CT. The Lieberman primary night gathering spot is at the Goodwin Hotel in Hartford, CT.

Ned Lamont voted earlier this morning in Greenwich, CT. Lamont intends to go around and thank volunteers and campaign staffers at various campaign offices before making his way to this primary night locale -- the Four Points Sheraton in Meriden, CT.

Colorado, Michigan, and Missouri also hold primary elections today. In Colorado's 7th congressional district, Democrats will see an end to a bruising primary battle between state Sen. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and former Rep. Peggy Lamm (D-CO); the victor will face Republican candidate Rick O'Donnell in the fall. A Republican primary in Michigan, meanwhile, tests the power of incumbency: Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-MI), a moderate targeted by the anti-tax Club for Growth, opposes former Rep. Tim Walberg in the Republican primary.

Michigan is home to two important statewide races as well. A noncompetitive Republican gubernatorial primary will set in stone the ballot in one of the most highly celebrated and carefully watched races nationwide: that between Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) and Republican/self-funder Dick DeVos. In addition, first-term Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will learn the identity of her Republican opponent for the fall -- Rev. Keith Butler or Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Finally, Georgians choose between Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Hank Johnson (D) in a closely contested run-off today. The race is largely a referendum on the controversial incumbent Democrat. In July's primary McKinney garnered 47 percent of the vote to Johnson's 44 percent, eking him out by fewer than 1500 votes in the final tally.

Polls opened at 7:00 am ET and close at 7:00 pm ET. LINK

The Associated Press highlights all of today's key races: LINK

At 2:15 pm ET the Federal Reserve releases its decision on interest rates. Many analysts believe Chairman Ben Bernanke will decide not to raise rates because of growing signs that the economy is slowing. ABC News' Dan Arnall expects the markets to rally if no change in the key interest rate is announced.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) attends AFSCME's 97th Internationalist Convention in Chicago, IL. She addresses the nation's largest union of government workers at 12:30 pm ET. LINK

Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) journeys to Montana as part of his ongoing efforts to help raise the minimum wage in states across the country. At 3:00 pm ET, Sen. Edwards joins "Raise Montana," the Montana minimum wage coalition in Helena, MT. At 3:45 pm ET, he answers journalists' queries on the steps of the state Capitol. And at 8:15 pm ET, Sen. Edwards treks to the Governor's Mansion to fundraise for the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

Gov. Romney (R-MA) attends the send-off ceremony for a Massachusetts National Guard unit heading to Kosovo at 11:00 am ET in Concord, MA. At 1:00 pm ET, with some representatives from the Boston Celtics beside him, he intends to sign legislation recognizing basketball as the official sport of the Commonwealth.

Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) continues his bus tour across Pennsylvania today. LINK

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman travels to Ohio today. He is scheduled to make closed press remarks (with Q &A) to grassroots volunteers in Maumee, OH and Cleveland, OH. He is also expected to make closed press remarks (with Q&A) at a Lucas County fundraiser in Toledo, OH and at a fundraiser for Ken Blackwell's gubernatorial campaign.

But Buckeye State journalists should not worry about a total media blackout. Mehlman is scheduled to do local press (1 radio and 3 television interviews) and he meets with grassroots volunteers at the Lorain Victory Center in Avon, OH at an open press event.

Sen. Lieberman's primary politics: Joe-mentum?:
"Lamont's Lead Slips On Eve of Primary," Washington Post. LINK

"One theory for Lamont's slipping support was that he has been damaged by Lieberman radio ads on black stations hitting the challenger for his longtime membership, terminated this year, at an exclusive Greenwich country club. The Lamont campaign responded by seeking out rap artists to phone black stations and remind listeners that Lieberman had once targeted rap music for promoting violence and drug use."

"It's Down To The Wire," the Hartford Courant wrapping up the race's last few days with a balanced look at the impact of the Q-poll. LINK

"Lieberman and Lamont Battle to the Wire," the New York Times describes Lieberman's nine events and unconventional ad on the penultimate day of campaigning -- a "sharply different" tactic from Lamont's limited public events and news conference with reporters. LINK

"Lieberman shows signs of cutting into Lamont lead, poll shows," the Associated Press LINK

"Late Lieberman surge makes race a tossup," the Washington Times. LINK

"Lieberman Finds his Mo-Joe," the New York Post on Lieberman narrowing in on double-digit poll. LINK