Democrat Joe Courtney Won't Run for Sen. Joe Lieberman's Seat

Rep. Joe Courtney has been named as a possible candidate with a good shot at winning Sen. Joe Lieberman's seat, but the prominent Connecticut Democrat says he has no intention of running for the Senate.

In a written statement released Monday morning, Courtney said he was grateful for the "tremendous encouragement and enthusiastic support" he has received from those who'd hoped he would run.

"I look forward to working with all of those who reached out to create a strong future for our state," Courtney said in the statement obtained by the Hartford Courant and WTNH-TV. "After careful deliberation, however, I have decided to focus on my work as a Congressman and will decline to enter the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate."

Courtney, 57, said he decided the best way to serve Connecticut was to remain in the House and focus on efforts to boost the economy.

In November, Courtney easily won re-election to a third term from the 2^nd Congressional District.

Last month, Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, announced he will not seek another term in 2012.

Democrat Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut's former secretary of state, said she will seek Lieberman's seek, as did U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy. Other possible Senate candidates include Republican Linda McMahon, who lost her Senate bid in 2010 to Richard Blumenthal, and Tom Foley, a former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, the Courant said.