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Bysiewicz Goes After Lieberman's Senate Seat

Susan Bysiewicz will run for the U.S. Senate in 2012, the former Connecticut secretary of the state announced Tuesday morning. Bysiewicz will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge four-term incumbent Joseph Lieberman.

"I am running for the U.S. Senate for the same reason I entered public service: I want this state to be a better place for my children and yours," Bysiewicz said on her Facebook page.

Bysiewicz, 49, started her political career in 1992, winning the 100th State House District, which covers part of her hometown of Middletown as well as Middlefield and Durham. She then was elected secretary of the state in 1998. Bysiewicz ended her 11-year tenure in the office earlier this month, when Denise Merrill took over.

In 2010, Bysiewicz attempted to run for state attorney general when Richard Blumenthal of Greenwich announced he would leave the office to run for the U.S. Senate. She was ruled ineligible by the state Supreme Court because she had not been a practicing attorney during the last decade.

Lieberman, a Stamford native and current resident, was first elected to the Senate in 1988 as a Democrat, and became the state's senior senator this year when Blumenthal was sworn in to the seat previously held by Christopher Dodd, also a Democrat.

But Lieberman created his own party in 2006, Connecticut for Lieberman, after Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont defeated him in the Democratic primary. Lieberman went on to win the general election with 49.7 percent of the vote to Lamont's 40 percent. Lieberman has since caucused with the Democrats. Lieberman says he had not decided whether to run for re-election, and if he did, whether he would remain independent or whether he would try again for the Democratic nomination.

What do you think of Susan Bysiewicz's chances? Would you vote for her? Share your opinions in the comments below.

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