Lamont is still a hero for being the only politician with the guts to stand up to Joe Lieberman way back in the day. I'm glad he finally managed to win elected office despite being not great at campaigning. Maybe he'll be a mediocre governor, but I'm excited for him since his Senate primary race in 2006 was one of the first elections I followed with the level of seriousness I follow politics now.
Excitement about "mediocre governor" is beyond my understanding. Mediocre remains mediocre, all other circumstances notwithstanding. I Remember similar words by former Senator Roman Hruska about Nixon's candidates for Supreme Court - Haynsworth and Carswell. Thanks God - they failed to convince a majority of Senators to confitm them.