The way CNN is reporting it, Lieberman has vaulted ahead in a super-duper surprise twist in the polls. Though he lost the primary, CNN is astounded that now Lieberman enjoys a 12-point lead in the polls (53% to 41%).

Apparently they don’t know the difference between a Democratic primary where only Democrats vote, and a general election where Republicans are included. Since Bush and RNC chairman Mehlman have refused to endorse their own GOP candidate in the race and at least in spirit heartily endorse their fake patsy Democrat the independent candidate Joe Lieberman, and since the GOP candidate is running in single digits (4%, down from 9%) in the polls, Lieberman is picking up the large majority of Republican votes, enough to give him that apparent lead.

The real surprise is that Lamont, always a long-shot dark horse candidate, now has 41% of the votes, after winning only 52% of Democrats in the primary. Lieberman was ahead in universal polls, that was never in question. But now the news services seem content to run with the “Lieberman surge” angle to the story.