Posted on 12/17/2007 12:46:19 PM PST by no dems
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Sen. John McCain, hoping to reprise his stunning 18-point defeat of Texas Gov. George W. Bush here in 2000, today will pick up the endorsement of Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat shunned by his party, in part for his steadfast support of the Iraq war.
Mr. Lieberman, the Democrats' 2000 vice-presidential nominee, was scheduled to announce his support for Mr. McCain at a town hall meeting this morning in Hillsborough.
A Lieberman adviser said the senator decided to back the Arizona Republican because he thinks Mr. McCain "has the best chance of uniting the country in its fight against Islamic terrorism."
The adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in advance of the formal announcement, said Mr. Lieberman would continue to caucus with Democrats, even though he is officially an independent. The adviser said the senator's decision to support Mr. McCain was not evidence of any lingering bitterness with his old party after high-profile Democrats abandoned him during his 2006 re-election campaign.
A McCain source familiar with the endorsement told The Washington Times the campaign is "grateful for the endorsement."
"It speaks to McCain's broad appeal as the most prepared to lead as commander in chief from Day One," the source said. "This endorsement is an example of why John McCain is the Democrats' worst nightmare in a general election."
Mr. McCain is the only Republican candidate who would defeat Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a CNN poll released last week shows. Mr. McCain would defeat the New York senator by two points, the poll found.
Support from independents will be key in the Jan. 8 primary in New Hampshire, where Mr. McCain is banking on a strong showing that can propel him through South Carolina to the Republican nomination.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Lieberman is a flaming liberal on everything but the war. He and McCain are perfect bedfellows.
Let’s see - an endorsement by an Independent who is a liberal Democrat in many ways.....hmmmmmmm....is that a good thing for a Republican candidate?
After the way the DNC and DCCC turned on him for the sin of supporting the WOT, I think he sticks around for the pleasure of making their heads explode.
Let us not forget Lieberman caucuses with the Dems.
this is only impressive because Lieberman is pretty well respected across the spectrum.
It won’t impress conservatives, whom McCain needs to win.
But it does make a case for why he could be strong in the general election.
“Why doesn’t Lieberman become a Pubbie and give the GOP control of the Senate?”
Lieberman is an old school Democrat. I used to think he would switch, but he just isn’t capable of doing it.
My mom was an old Philadelphia trade union Democrat. Her positions were often conservative, but she always stuck up for the Dems. Even after the only thing that remained of the old party was simply the name.
I think it goes back to those generations that came up or were directly influenced by the depression. Everyone in my mother’s family got a job as a direct result of knowing the precinct captain - they never went back on that loyalty.
Lieberman would probably have been a better pubbie that Linc Chaffee. I wish he would come over just to regain control of the senate, but he won’t.
This generation will of liberals will be gone after this presidential cycle. I’ll be glad of that.
When the endorser is a Joe Liebermann, you betcha. Turning the Democrats on their heads to keep his Senate seat earned him a lot of respect.
How good a thing it is? Wael, that's to be seen.
Only the media would find this of value to McCain.
What a joke. mclame can't even unite pubbies, let alone the country.
Why “unlikely?” McCain is a RINO.
Oh yeah, a glut of recent endorsements of McCain by a bunch of liberal newsrags and a liberal politician has convinced me to vote for him (NOT!!!).
Mock it all you want, but I guarantee if you polled a McCain/Lieberman ticket vs any combination or Rs or Ds it would win the national election by a landslide.
Had Lieberman been the Presidential candidate instead of the VP on the ticket in 2000, Bush would not have became president.
I still say keep an eye on McCain, he’s the dark horse on the R side, and if the top tier stumble, he’ll be the one who gains from it.
From what I have seen so far if Duncan Hunter can’t get the nomination then McCain is the best of the lot and I know you might flame me but, the ex-preacher from Clintonville will never be prez. Rudy, Mitt and Fred will just spend a lot of money. The race is the Republicans to lose. A uniter might save the office of President but, Rudy, Mitt, Fred and Huckleberry will not unit the Republicans.
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