The rules of the political game have changed for Democrats - as evidenced by Tuesday's primary in Connecticut. And Sen. Harry Reid could see it coming 18 months ago.

In Connecticut on Tuesday, party elder Sen. Joseph Lieberman was upset by upstart anti-war millionaire Ned Lamont, with the help of a legion of new activists.

Lieberman was rejected by Connecticut Democrats because he was seen as too cozy with President Bush and the Republican power structure. He seemed oblivious to the partisanship that has gripped Washington since at least 2000, when he was the party's vice presidential nominee.