Sen. Joe Lieberman said Monday that losing the 2006 Democratic primary was one of the most difficult moments of his political career. But the independent lawmaker quickly added that he thinks that loss and his subsequent decision to run for re-election without the support of the Democratic Party freed him up to be in a unique position in the current political environment.

After losing the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont, Lieberman ran in the general election as an independent, besting Lamont and the Republican challenger in order to hold onto his Senate seat.

Lieberman told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that being an independent has worked to his benefit.