Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Monday on CNN that losing the Democratic primary in 2006 was both "the most painful moment, most disappointing moment of my political career" but also one that provided the groundwork to allow him to legislate from a position he now likes -- as an independent not beholden to any particular party.
"[A]s I look back to it, and it sure didn't feel like that then, I feel like I was done a favor," Lieberman said in an interview on CNN's "John King USA."
"Being elected as an Independent I think put me in exactly the position I want to be in at this hyper-partisan, non-productive, divisive time in our politics," Lieberman told King. "And it gives me the latitude to try to be a bridge on a lot of different issues, to make things happen. Or sometimes not to be a bridge. Just to speak out and say what I believe - whether it makes everybody on one party or another happy or not."
Asked to predict the political future of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who is said to be considering an independent run for Senate after looking increasingly weak in the Republican primary, Lieberman offered only this: "Every campaign -- every individual -- is a different situation."
Watch the video: