Posted on 12/17/2007 2:38:47 PM PST by NormsRevenge
HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. - Republican John McCain is having quite a moment. He's rising in the polls. He's got major newspaper endorsements in Iowa and New Hampshire. And now he's getting help with this state's legions of independent voters from Joe Lieberman, the contrarian who was Democrat Al Gore's running mate in 2000.
"The Mac is Back," said a hand-painted sign on the wall of the packed American Legion post where Lieberman announced his endorsement on Monday, a newly optimistic tone after a bumpy campaign year for the Arizona senator.
The decision by the Senate's best-known independent to snub the Democratic Party could help McCain win a bigger share of the tide of independent voters who have been expected to flow to the Democratic field in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 8.
Independents outnumber Republicans and Democrats here, and the state is key to McCain's hopes for the GOP nomination.
Support from a high-profile senator who almost always caucuses and votes with Democrats risks alienating conservative GOP voters, angry already at what they see as McCain's abandonment on immigration and campaign finance. Democratic leaders expressed their annoyance, too.
There was no doubt, however, about the Lieberman announcement's buzz effect — no small factor in a race now in the homestretch with a large field. The news injected energy and interest into the McCain campaign, still behind in the polls but glowing from a weekend of coveted newspaper endorsements: from The Des Moines Register in Iowa, where he is barely competing in the Jan. 3 caucuses, as well as from The Boston Globe and The Portsmouth Herald — both influential in New Hampshire. He'd already been endorsed by The New Hampshire Union Leader.
McCain also seemingly has enough money to stage a more serious play for South Carolina. He announced Monday he is going on the radio there with a spot featuring the state's popular Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham — another of his Senate colleagues.
McCain's strategy, pared down after financial and organizational troubles earlier this year, now calls for winning New Hampshire and using that boost to lay claim to South Carolina.
Independents, who can vote in either party's primary in New Hampshire, are the wild card. They helped McCain beat George W. Bush here in 2000. McCain advisers are hoping for a repeat — but this time not followed by a loss in South Carolina and defeat for the nomination.
On the first day of a two-day Straight Talk Express tour through New Hampshire — McCain's second bus tour of the state in two weeks, he said "I do" when asked if he senses upward momentum. His crowds are bigger and more enthusiastic, his Internet hits more frequent and his poll numbers are rising, McCain said.
"But I am not an unbiased observer," he said, adding some realism.
"We have a long way to go," McCain said, aware that opinion polls still show him trailing far behind fellow Republican Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.
Roberta Adams and George Merrill, both undecided voters who drove from nearby Antrim to check out McCain, came away impressed but uncommitted. Merrill, a registered Republican, said New Hampshire's independent spirit means the endorsement by Lieberman not only doesn't hurt McCain with Republicans but helps.
"We're not voting for the party, we're voting for the man," Merrill said.
McCain said the support from an "independent Democrat," as the Connecticut senator calls himself, will answer the people who invariably ask him in town hall meetings, "Why can't you all work together?"
Lieberman reinforced the message. He said he chose his longtime Senate colleague as the best candidate of either party because of his national security credentials and because McCain has the best shot of breaking through partisan gridlock.
"You may not agree with John McCain on everything — I don't," Lieberman told those gathered in the American Legion hall. "But you can always count on him to be honest with you about where he stands and to stand where he honestly thinks it's best for our country."
Lieberman said he had planned to wait until after the primaries to make a 2008 pick, but changed his mind when McCain called — the only candidate, including fellow Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd who is running for president on the Democratic side, to do so.
Lieberman won re-election to the Senate in 2006 as an independent, after losing the Democratic primary to upstart Ned Lamont, largely because of Lieberman's support for the war.
Lamont said Monday, "It is now clear that Joe Lieberman is the one working to defeat our hopes."
Said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.: "I have the greatest respect for Joe, but I simply have to disagree with his decision to endorse Senator McCain."
In South Carolina, McCain backers had been growing restless as the campaign put most of its resources into TV ads in New Hampshire and all but planted the candidate there, save for a few days. Supporters pressed the campaign to send money south to show he hadn't abandoned the state. They apparently got their wish: A radio ad begins this week, focusing on McCain's position on Iraq and featuring Graham — an issue and a person close to the hearts of many South Carolina Republicans.
"I've been to Iraq nine times. The troop surge is working. Terrorists are on the run, and we need a president prepared to win," Graham says in the ad. "Only one candidate had the courage to call for the troop surge in spite of the polls, and that's John McCain."
Republican Presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., a former Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, arrive off the Straight Talk Express, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, at the American Legion in Hillsborough, N.H. Lieberman announced his endorsement for McCain. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
The Straight TalkBushWhack Express rides again.
McPain won’t win but it’s nice to see someone likes him.
I sure won’t be voting for the creep.
shades of Schwarzenkennedy
Hey Mc if you lose the GOP nomination you can imitate Loserman by jumping ship and running with him on an independent ticket.
This cast of democrat and republican candidates is pretty pathetic.
Republicrats or Socialists - what a choice for 2008.
Yeah, ... big news flash. Stop the Presses!
Boston Globe (a.k.a. Ted Kennedy Newsletter) endorses the Rebublican Lib.
Hilda is running on fumes and imploding.
Even Liberal Dems I speak to do not want to endure Obama's Identity Crisis.
Where does that leave the Democratic Party? With Con-Edwards? They are not stupid enough the other half of their last loosing ticket.
What you are looking at here it the story ticket that would Crissy Matthews and Russert chortling for eons, they couldn't contain their self defined yet imagined "centrist" glee.....
Your are looking at the Democratic Ticket in 08', McCain-Lieberman.
Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) arrives for a campaign stop in Hillsborough, New Hampshire December 17, 2007 where Senator McCain received the endorsement of Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
Let’s see. Dems hate Lieberman, Republicans hate McCain and that leaves about 30% of the population left that likes these 2 and will bother to vote.
Looks to be a light turnout.
A “third-party” run with a “classic liberal” Democrat party, reborn without its “Greenie envirowhacko” fringe, just might appeal to enough people to be a major contender.
But the same thing was thought of the Ross Perot effort.
The chattering classes wouldn't contain themselves! Why an end to gridlock! Oh the Humanity of it all! We all can sing Kumbiya now and get along, the ultimate fusion dish!
You may not see it coming... I can.
Shouldn't that be:
McCain gains Joementum in ex-Dem Lieberman support
CB^)
Thanks for making that clear, Joe. With any luck you can translate your momentum (or is it "Joementum"?) from your stellar career to McCain.
Democrats are the only people supporting McCain.
What happened to the strawberries?
The GOP owes NOTHING to Sen McCain. I for one have not forgotten how he has “kissed” the democRATS a**es on just about everything not to mention a’ huggin’ n’ a kissin’ on Teddy K. What say we swap McCain for Lieberman straight up? ........even trade. The Great Oz Has Spoken.
And other thing, look up the definition of RINO and you will see McCain’s picture!
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