Joe (Lieberman) not the boost McCain needs in state

WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman is apparently not the right ticket for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain to carry the Nutmeg State.

Lieberman, who has been a near constant companion of McCain's on the campaign trail, would likely cost McCain votes this fall in Connecticut if he were named his running mate, according to the latest Quinnipiac University Poll.

McCain trails Democratic contender Barack Obama by a 56-35 margin among likely state voters. When asked if Lieberman were McCain's running mate, 32 percent of Connecticut voters said they would be less likely to support the Republican ticket and only 14 percent were more likely, according to the poll that was released Wednesday.

"It certainly doesn't seem to help. In fact, more say they'd be less likely to vote for McCain if he selected Lieberman," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz.

Strikingly, Lieberman appears to hurt McCain among independent voters in the state. Among that group, 33 percent said they would be less likely to vote for McCain with Lieberman as a running mate, and only 16 percent would be more likely.

"That's supposed to be the group that you would think that Lieberman might help with, but more said 'less likely' than 'more likely," Schwartz said........