Alec Baldwin passing on challenge to Lieberman

[August 25, 2009]  HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A spokesman for Alec Baldwin says the actor has no plans to challenge Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2012 election.

Matthew Hiltzik said Monday that Baldwin does not plan to move to Connecticut or to run. He says the "30 Rock" star wants Lieberman to stay in office because there are so few moderate Republicans in the Senate. Lieberman was re-elected in 2006 as an independent after he lost the Democratic primary.

Baldwin was quoted in Playboy magazine this summer as saying he would love to run against Lieberman. His brother, Stephen Baldwin, said last week that his older brother is serious about politics.

On CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, Lieberman said he respects Baldwin as an actor but dared him to "make my day" with a Senate challenge.

[Associated Press]

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