In his nationally televised concession speech after losing to primary challenger Ned Lamont this week, Connecticut Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman announced he would continue his re-election bid as an independent, He appealed to people across the country to send their support - and maybe a campaign contribution - to his headquarters.

A new Zogby Interactive poll shows he shouldn't waste too much time waiting by the mailbox.

An overwhelming majority of Democrats - 79% - nationwide said they are glad that the three-term senator was defeated by Lamont, who ran a powerful anti-Iraq war campaign. They also said Lamont's victory over one of the few pro-war Democrats in Washington makes them optimistic they can win control of at least one of the two houses of Congress in November.

Our interactive survey, including interviews Wednesday and Thursday with 1,229 likely voting Democrats, also highlighted what Democrats across the country said they want to hear from their candidates--a resolute opposition to the war. More than three-quarters of Democrats (78%) said they want candidates who oppose the conflict. Just 6% said they think their Democratic candidates should support the war. Another 13% said they want their candidates to take a middling stance somewhere between support and opposition.

While Republicans may have used the war for political success in 2002 and 2004, Democrats are ready for their turn at the plate this November, and they see the defeat of Lieberman as the first step - 62% said they believe the results of the Connecticut primary will hold national implications for the elections coming up this fall.

And they expect those implications to favor them - 70% said they think the Lamont victory makes the Democratic Party stronger heading into the important election season.

Until this week, Democrats had mostly failed to define themselves in this midterm election, but the Lamont victory may be a turning point for them. Their collective voice is now loud and clear.

Our poll shows the war is creating a unity in the Democratic Party, and the Lamont candidacy both fed off that unity and helped it grow stronger. In a curious way, Joe Lieberman also helped unify the Democrats - an overwhelming majority (71%) said they were unhappy with his decision to run as an independent in the November general election.

Which means there aren't many Democrats left to write support letters to Joe - let alone checks.

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