WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats are hinting at payback for Senator Joe Lieberman, who criticized Barack Obama during a prime-time address this week at the Republican National Convention.

Lieberman is a Democrat-turned-independent who still caucuses with Democrats, which allows them to control the Senate with a 51-49 majority.

However, a spokesman for Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Reid has put Lieberman on notice and the Democratic caucus will likely revisit the situation after the elections.

No possible measures have been publicly discussed. But there's speculation that if Democrats add to their Senate majority, they could oust Lieberman from his coveted spot at the head of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Connecticut senator says he's not surprised by the possible retribution. He claims that electing the right person to the White House is more important to him than partisan considerations.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)