Joe Lieberman may be driving swarms of Connecticut Democrats up the wall with his I-don't-want-the-public-option view of health care reform and his promises to campaign for Republicans next year, but apparently Chris Dodd isn't among them.

Lieberman has warned he'd join a Republican filibuster to block a U.S. Senate vote on health care reform that included a government-sponsored public insurance option. (A Lieberman spokesman Tuesday denied a report that Joe had cut a secret deal with Senate leadership not to block such a vote.)

In a conference call with Connecticut reporters, Dodd again shrugged off Lieberman's anti-Democratic stance as just another policy disagreement.

"I'm disappointed he took a position different from mine on the public option," said Dodd, who was designated by Teddy Kennedy to be his posthumous point man on health care reform. "That happens from time to time."

"Joe and I have a good working relationship, have for many years, and that will continue," said Dodd.

Of course, a lot of Connecticut Democrats see it differently, as through blood-tinted glasses.

They're still steaming over Joe's decision in 2006 to jump ship and run as an independent after he was denied the party's nomination to run for a fourth term, and his endorsement of and campaigning for Republican John McCain in last year's presidential race. Not exactly what they expected from the guy they were cheering for as the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2000.

Democratic leaders and Dodd are now getting hit with collateral damage from the left-wing'soutrage over Lieberman. Many lefties are wondering when, if ever, the Democrats will throw Lieberman out of their U.S. Senate caucus.

Dodd, who is facing his toughest-ever reelection race next year, also had no opinion about whether his good buddy Joe is going to run when his term is up in 2012.

"I wouldn't have the vaguest idea," said Dodd.