November 4, 2009 Lamont considers run for Governor in Conn.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Ned Lamont, the Greenwich businessman who defeated Joseph Lieberman in a Democratic primary in the 2006 U.S. Senate race, has formed an exploratory committee to consider running for Connecticut governor.

Lamont announced his intentions in an e-mail to supporters of his Senate campaign.

He says the state is heading in the wrong direction with a weakened economy, fewer jobs and young people leaving the state. Without naming Republican M. Jodi Rell, he says Connecticut's current chief executive "is not getting the job done."

Lamont gained national attention when he defeated Lieberman in the Democratic primary. Lieberman later ran as an independent candidate and defeated Lamont in the general election.