Just posted to the NYT. Some of the pertinent information –
One aide believes Lieberman wanted to leave voluntarily rather than being voted out (with a stronger Republican candidate and Lieberman’s slightly more left-of-center voting record this past year, that scenario seemed a bit more likely):
Mr. Lieberman, whose term is up in 2012, chose to retire rather than risk being defeated, said the person, who spoke to the senator on Tuesday.
“I don’t think he wanted to go out feet first,” the person said
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Another aide seems to have a more policy-based analysis of the decision to keep quiet about his retirement plans, which implies that Sen. Lieberman has been considering this for a while:
One aide, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement, said Mr. Lieberman arrived at his decision around Thanksgiving but postponed revealing his decision until after the legislative effort that culminated in the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays in the military – an effort in which Mr. Lieberman played a central role.
I for one am thankful for Sen. Lieberman’s role in pushing DADT repeal through the Senate. I believe he, along with Sens. Gillibrand, Udall, Maj. Leader Reid and others, engaged in a lot of brilliant strategy to bring that bill to the floor when it had been all but counted out days before.
This now is a Dem v. Rep race, which will probably be a better situation for Team Blue. I’m betting Rep. Murphy’s announcement comes by the end of next week.