Republicans said a general election matchup in which Mr. Lieberman ran as an independent against Ned Lamont, the winner of the primary, could hinder Democrats in their efforts to unseat three incumbent representatives who are top Democratic targets.

Democrats disputed that and said the high-intensity Senate fight could help the Democratic challengers for the House seats by drawing Democratic voters to the polls...

..."All signs are pointing to an anti-status-quo election,'' said Amy Walter, an analyst of House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political report. ''Can Democrats win the House is no longer the valid question. The question is whether Republicans can do anything about it.''

Nearly any scenario for Democrats to gain the 15 seats necessary to take control of the House foresees them capturing at least one and perhaps two of three Connecticut seats now held by Republicans, Nancy L. Johnson, Christopher Shays and Rob Simmons.

Republican officials and Ms. Walter said Wednesday that the Lieberman-Lamont contest could muddle the Democratic message in the state, distract from the House races and draw out more centrist Democrats who could support Mr. Lieberman and a House Republican.

''Anyone who is going to vote for Lieberman, my guys can get,'' said Carl Forti, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. ''The Republicans have continued to be re-elected because they are seen in Connecticut as independent and working for their districts.''

Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, took the opposite view, saying the turnout in the primary showed that Democrats were highly motivated and intended to punish politicians seen as too closely allied with President Bush.

Here is how Chris Bowers puts it:

Joe Lieberman is now actively supporting Republicans for important seats in Congress. He is now actively opposing the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Connecticut, Governor in Connecticut, and the second congressional district of Connecticut. Joe Lieberman wants Republicans to hold Congress. Joe Lieberman is actively trying to make sure that Republicans maintain Congress. It does not matter what he says anymore--he is clearly working with Republican candidates. This serves as grounds for removing his seniority, and as grounds for stripping him of his party affiliation.

Chris's point should go without saying, and I am not talking about stripping his seniority in January. He needs to be stripped of his seniority right now. What would that mean? Well, for starters it would mean that the new heirarchy in the Homeland Security Committee would be Carl Levin, Daniel Akaka, followed by Tom Carper of Delaware. Since Levin and Akaka already serve as ranking members on, respectively, Armed Services and Veteran's Affairs, Carper would probably take over the Homeland Security Committee. Good for him. Although it would be ironic since Carper has endorsed Lieberman. Stripping Joe of his seniority would also move Hillary up from the lowest member on the Armed Services Committee, and bump Barbara Boxer to the second spot on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Works for me.

There is no longer any excuse for allowing Joe Lieberman to be a leader within the Democratic Caucus. By campaiging with the Republican Governor and with a Republican representative, he has forfeited any good will he may have earned over eigtheen years in the Senate. Call your Senator and tell them to tell Harry Reid to strip Lieberman of his seniority now!!