By Mark Preston
CNN Political Editor
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Ned Lamont will be offered financial and political assistance from national Democratic leaders in his bid to defeat Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut) in November, a senior Democrat announced Tuesday.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York), who is charged with helping direct Senate Democrat's campaign efforts, said he plans to meet with Lamont to discuss how the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee can assist his campaign.
"I will be meeting with Ned Lamont next week to discuss what kinds of help he needs and we intend to help him financially and otherwise," Schumer said at an afternoon news briefing with reporters.
Lamont defeated Lieberman in the Democratic primary earlier this month, but the incumbent vowed to continue his bid for re-election as an independent Democrat.
Schumer said he "will take" Lieberman at his word to run as an independent Democrat, but emphasized the party would still be backing Lamont in the midterm elections. And Schumer noted that he would tell Democratic donors to contribute to Lamont instead of Lieberman if asked.
"We are supporting Ned Lamont and we are encouraging Democrats to support Ned Lamont," Schumer said.
Dan Gerstein, a spokesman for Lieberman, told CNN the Connecticut senator considers Schumer "a friend and understands the situation he is in as head of the DSCC." As for Schumer's decision to help Lamont financially, Gerstein said they have anticipated all along that Lamont would be well funded whether it was from outside sources or by dipping into his own personal fortune as he did in the primary.
And Gerstein noted that Lieberman will be able to raise the money he needs for his campaign for a fourth term, because he has a "strong base of support that transcends partisan politics."
