ESPN's Chris Berman Endorses Joe Lieberman

New Haven Register ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman’s presidential bid has been picked to win by one of the nation’s best-known, if politically unaccredited, prognosticators: ESPN’s Chris Berman.

Berman, a Cheshire resident who has been with the Bristol-based sports network since just after its inception in 1979, delivered his endorsement in character.

"The Swami says Joe Lieberman could … go … all … the … way. Just like the Patriots," Berman said, cozying up to New Hampshire voters who cast ballots in the state’s pivotal primary on Jan. 27.

Berman said he has voted for the Connecticut Democrat in each of his bids for the office of state attorney general and the U.S. Senate, and is proud of supporting Lieberman now.

Recent polls show Lieberman pulling close to U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., for third place among likely New Hampshire primary voters, although retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark is advancing as well, in second place behind the current favorite, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

A poll conducted Monday and Tuesday by Boston’s WHDH-TV and Suffolk University showed Dean leading in New Hampshire at 32 percent, Clark at 17 percent, and Kerry and Lieberman in a statistical dead heat at 12 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

The poll had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.9 percentage points.

Vying with Clark and others to emerge as an alternative to Dean, Lieberman’s campaign has shifted its attacks from Dean and President Bush to Clark.

Lieberman’s campaign has assailed Clark’s record of voting for Republican presidential candidates, and Clark’s purportedly contradictory statements about his position on the war in Iraq.

To illustrate their point, members of Lieberman’s campaign delivered assorted pairs of flip-flops Wednesday to Clark offices in Arizona, New Mexico, and South Carolina.

Bill Buck, a spokesman for Clark’s campaign, was not amused.

"I’m not sure what claim they were trying to make. General Clark has consistently opposed the war in Iraq as a distraction from the war on terror," Buck said. "I think his 34 years in the military give him adequate experience to deal with the war on terror."

Lieberman’s campaign has become the first to hit the airwaves in the Feb. 3 primary state of Delaware.

The campaign is running an ad touting Lieberman’s proposed middle-class tax cuts on two television stations based in Salisbury, Md.

A new radio ad features former governor and U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who has endorsed Lieberman.

Lieberman’s campaign hinges on New Hampshire and Feb. 3 contests in Arizona, Oklahoma and South Carolina, but he made a point of spending time and resources in Delaware, where modest investments have historically paid big dividends on primary day.

Of the nine Democrats running for president, only Lieberman and the Rev. Al Sharpton have campaigned personally in Delaware.

Joseph Straw can be reached at jstraw@nhregister.com, or (202) 737-5654.

©New Haven Register 2004

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

I find Suzy Kolber pretty hot. I am a huge Jim Rome fan so I like the Rome schtick she sometimes uses.

[jagrmeister]

These celebrity endorsements go along way with Democrats who are used to taking their political cues from People magazine as opposed to US News and World Report or Foreign Affairs.

[Charles Henrickson]

Can someone come up with a Bermanism for Lieberman?

Joe Lie-"Chris"-berman
"Cuppa" Joe Lieberman
"Little Joe" Lieberman
"Jilted Joe" Lieberman
"Angelina" Joe Lieberman
Joe "Lubber or" Lieberman

--Chris "Joe Lee" Berman

[zarf]

WOOH DUDE...AWESOME!!

If I gave prizes I'd give you one!

[bootless]

[NOW I'm in the right thread!]

(sigh)

Well, Boomer is probably feeling nostalgic for his Connecticut News Network days (I was in CT news at the same time, in the late 70s). Lieberman was pretty prominent in CT politics then.

I still think he coulda done better. He is the least worst of the dwarves, however. The rest of the dwarves think he's a right-wing nut.

[bootless]

Hmm. My favorite Bermanism is: Jim "Two Silhouettes on" DeShaies.

[bootless]

Berman's a nice guy. I attended a Giants game at Pac Bell Park last summer, and sat right under the broadcast booths. I waved at him on the way out, a just for the hell of it, said to him, "Connecticut Radio Network!" and was about to keep walking. He stopped me and asked me where I worked, and told him in, so we chatted for a minute till the usher shooed us all out. It was fun.

I actually interviewed for a typing job at ESPN before they started up in 1979, but I had an off day and didn't get it. :-)

[bootless]

Chris "endorses Lie" Berman

That's GOOD!

[over3Owithabrain]

Berman always struck me as a likeable guy. Nothing to get worked up over here with his endorsement. He's a loyal New Englander and is a homer for all the local teams (and apparently pols too). Don't think he is much of a deep and influentual thinker.

But I am weary of ESPN. They were once great, now they are a parody of themselves. All their sportsanchors are too into who they are, with their constant giggles during the reading of news and their cutesy lingo. Not to mention the network is becoming increasingly activist since partnering with ABC.

[nutmeg]

Geesh, why don't these sportscasters just stick to sports reporting, and quit endorsing candidates and bashing Rush Limbaugh?!

Here's the October 2003 article from ESPN.com where it is mentioned that Chris Berman describes himself as "a New England Democrat":

ESPN's Chris Berman: I'm a "New England Democrat" (in Context of Flap over Rush's Remarks)

[nutmeg]

ping!

[TheOtherOne]

Lawrence 'poetry in' Moten

[Brimack34]

That is fitting. They both are spineless cowards.

[Tall_Texan]

Maybe Berman is endorsing Joe because he's the only Democrat dwarf who is in favor of national DEEEEEEEEE-Fense!

[bootless]

Bert "Be Home" Blyleven.

[bedolido]

now he's done it! next Donovan McNabb is gonna endorse Howard Dean.... won't the Deanie-weenies love that?

[ConservativeMan55]

Interesting....Go Panthers!

[Patrick Henry Returns]

I didn't have a lot of respect for these guys prior to the Rush incident, but after that, I knew they were all just a bunch of girlie boys who refuse to grow up.

Supporting Joe Lieberman? He just pissed off more than half his audience.

I'm surprised the TV crew hasn't all come out for Sharpton.

[gortklattu]

Angela Joe-leeeee ber man!