Two important ones in the local press today:

1. Today's Journal-Inquirer explores the new pro-Lieberman ads being paid for by Robert J. Perry, a major financier of the Swift Boaters in 2004 (to the tune of over $2 million) who so viciously attacked John Kerry's military service to his country. Now he's attacking Ned. And Joe Lieberman and Tammy Sun are A-OK with it:

"Here is proof positive that Lieberman is more likely to side with George Bush and Dick Cheney than people of Connecticut," she said. "And these are the very same people behind the swift boat campaign, one of the most disgraceful incidents in American political campaigning, which defined new lows, and they are choosing to focus on Connecticut and to focus on Joe Lieberman."

Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth, which collected more than $2 million from Perry in 2004, criticized Kerry's service in Vietnam and questioned his wartime commendations.

Lieberman's spokeswoman, Tammy Sun, adamantly denied any connection between the incumbent's campaign and the Free Enterprise Fund ad, noting that would be illegal.

2. Today's Connecticut Post explores at length Joe Lieberman's relationship to big drug companies:

Alex Knott, political editor at the Center for Public Integrity, says there is no doubt Lieberman has cultivated ties to the brand-name pharmaceutical industry.

"He has accepted campaign contributions from biotech lobbyists and even hired Charles Ludlam, a former lobbyist for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, to write legislation that appears to have the objective of helping out the industry," Knott said.

Moreover, Knott said, industry campaign contributions help open doors.

"You tend to call back the people who have made contributions to you," he said. "While this access doesn't necessarily buy you an end result, it does allow you to make your case."...

"It is outrageous that under the guise of homeland security, the brand pharmaceutical industry is seeking patent extensions for everyday medicines at the expense of consumers, especially seniors and the uninsured — individuals who need affordable, life-saving generic medicines the most," said GPA President and CEO Kathleen Jaeger.

As for Lieberman's proposal, Jaeger said at the time it was introduced that it was "little more than a giveaway to the brand pharmaceutical industry."