Lieberman Won't Seek Reelection in 2012

Democratic sources said Tuesday that U.S. senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut will not seek reelection in 2012, though his office has yet to confirm his possible retirement.

The Washington Post reports that Lieberman will make an announcement Wednesday in Stamford, Conn. If the murmurs are correct, he will be joined by North Dakota Democratic senator Kent Conrad, who announced Tuesday that he will not seek a fifth term in office, and Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, who made public her decision to leave the Senate last week.

Lieberman was Al Gore's running mate in the 2000 presidential election, and, in 2004, ran for the Democratic nomination for president. In 2006, Lieberman won Senate reelection for his fourth term as an independent candidate, only after he lost the Democratic primary to television news executive Ned Lamont.

According toThe New York Times, Lieberman wanted to retire after 22 years in the Senate rather than risk being defeated, since the senator has suffered waning support from Democrats over the last decade for his alliance with Republicans on some issues, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Most recently, Lieberman was the Senate sponsor of the bill that repealed the military's ban on out gay and lesbian service members.