In somewhat surprising news, Ned Lamont, the man who defeated Joe Lieberman in a Connecticut Senate primary in 2006, announced today that he would form an exploratory committee for 2010 in Connecticut. The release doesn’t specify WHAT campaign he’s forming that exploratory committee for, but it seems like the signs point to a run for Governor, against the popular (although less so than in past years) Governor Jodi Rell. Here’s his statement:

“As I have continued to meet with citizens across our state over the last three years, as co-chairman of President Obama’s Connecticut campaign and on behalf of health care reform, I have been constantly reminded that Connecticut is not living up to its potential and that too many of our families are being left behind,” said Lamont.

“Like businesses, states thrive with strong executive leadership, and they fall behind with weak leadership. As measured by the loss of jobs, young people leaving our state, and the never-ending budget crisis, Connecticut’s Chief Executive is simply not getting the job done.”

If anyone is poised to recapture the magic of Democratic wins in the past two cycles, leveraging the netroots and grassroots progressives, it’s Ned Lamont.

Some might be disappointed that Lamont will not seek to wait until 2012 to finish off Joe Lieberman. Lamont discussed Lieberman on Rachel Maddow this week.

UPDATE: In a follow-up announcement, Lamont tells supporters that he is indeed seeking to run for Governor in Connecticut.