Susan Bysiewicz, who earlier this month ended her 12-year tenure as Connecticut's secretary of state, is expected to announce Tuesday plans to challenge independent Sen. Joe Lieberman in 2012.
The CT Mirror reports:
Her first challenge will be to convince Democratic activists she was not permanently damaged last year by a string of missteps, beginning when she exited the governor's race in January as the early front-runner, tempted by a seemingly easier campaign for attorney general.
Instead, Bysiewicz was knocked from the race in stunning fashion: Just days before the Democratic nominating convention, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that she lacked the requisite experience to be attorney general.
Beyond these tribulations, The Mirror reports that Bysiewicz will be forced to defend herself against allegations that she misused a state database during her quest for higher office.
Regardless of Bysiewicz's potential flaws, Lieberman is largely believed to have a difficult path to securing reelection in 2012, his first since dropping his Democratic party affiliation during his ultimately-successful 2006 reelection campaign.
While Lieberman has insisted that he will seek a fifth term, both Democrats and Republicans have reportedly been eying his seat.
As The Huffington Post reported last year:
Democrats don't appear likely to concede the seat to the Connecticut senator who has been known to vote against the Democratic agenda more than his blue state's constituency might prefer. Lieberman endorsed John McCain for president in 2008 and was a notorious obstruction during the Democrats' health care overhaul effort, an act that 81 percent of Democrats said should result in the stripping of his committee post.
Lieberman is also expected to receive some strong competition from the right, including perhaps from former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, who was defeated by longtime Conn. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal last November in a battle for retiring Sen. Chris Dodd's seat.
Perhaps most worrying for Lieberman is the fact that recent polling has shown weak support for the senator across the board, with Democrats reporting the greatest dissatisfaction.
UPDATE: Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), another possible Democratic challenger in 2012, issued the following statement:
"My interest in running for Senate in 2012 is well known in the state, and I expect to announce my decision very soon. All I can say now is that this is going to be a pretty busy few weeks."