"Joe Lieberman is an icon in Connecticut," said Al Simon, 46, a delegate from Windsor, which passed a resolution this year censuring the senator for his position on Iraq. "For this to happen is indicative of the depth of anger felt by a lot of rank-and-file Democrats against Democratic leaders."

“Now we’ll get a chance to vote again in the primary,” said Montville delegate Candy Buebendorf, who voted for Lieberman, but remains uncertain about her continued support. “I’ve asked to talk with him. I need to ask him how can we know that we can trust him.”

Sean Smith, Lieberman's campaign manager, protested after the balloting that Lamont had won roughly the same number of delegates he had been "saying all week" and stressed that the party had still gone "two-to-one" for the senator.

Smith... said he would be thrilled if Lieberman leaves the convention with 70 percent of the delegates.

Worse for Lieberman, he now faces what will be the first national campaign of the election season, turning what should be a state primary into a nationwide referendum on Iraq and President Bush's foreign policy. Both men will look far outside Connecticut for resources to fuel their campaigns.