Posted on 01/15/2008 3:22:20 PM PST by prolifefirst
ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Sen. Joseph Lieberman called on Michigan's Independents and Democrats on Tuesday to come out and vote for Sen. John McCain in the Republican primary, saying he is convinced that McCain will "become our next great American president."
"I urge them to come out today and stand for a man who is a great American patriot," Lieberman said at a joint town hall meeting with McCain in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"There's no competitive Democratic primary," Lieberman added. "I know there's some other moderate and conservative Democrats like myself."
Lieberman, an Independent Democratic senator from Connecticut, crossed party lines to endorsed McCain, R-Ariz., for president last month. He has appeared on the trail with McCain, and occasionally spoken in his place.
Michigan's primary - underway Tuesday - is open, meaning it allows voters to pick which ballot – Republican or Democrat – they wish to use. The frontrunners for the Democratic primary are not competing here in the Great Lakes state.
Lieberman and McCain share an ideological kinship on the issue of the Iraq war, and have traveled to Iraq together on congressional delegation trips.
McCain's rival for the Republican nomination, former Governor Mitt Romney, R-Mass., suggested Tuesday that if McCain wins in Michigan, it will be because of the crossover votes from non-Republicans.
"Many people predicted that in New Hampshire we wouldn't get the majority of the Republican vote. We did," McCain responded to reporters. If [Independents and Democrats] all turn out for us, then I think that's a signal that we can do well in the general election."
McCain was also asked if Lieberman might be a potential running mate for him if he were to win the nomination.
"I think it would be very presumptuous of me having won one primary to be discussing running mates," McCain said. "Now I'll admit to a massive ego, but not quite that massive."
The soft squishy center.
To All McCain Supporters:
If you read this and still support McCain, you are in the wrong party.
The exit is to your left.
Looks like Lieberman is fishing for another VP run.
What is up with a candidate that runs as a party member but relies on votes from other parties and independents?
Seems somewhat disingenuous to me.
Breaking news. McCain picks VP.
I agree! A conservative wouldn’t do any of this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954102/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1953594/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1953505/posts
So if Romney wins MI, his win should garner him a lot more RESPECT.
If McCain wins, GOP members should ignore the result as TAINTED.
[Daily] Kos is also saying the same thing. Kind of ironic considering he instigated that nut to run against Lieberman (D)...
IGNORE that - Kos wants Dems to vote Romney... Nevermind.
DK doesn’t want a middle centrist to run as it may get the independent vote and ruin the SHRILL ones mandate to dictate.....! I’m convinced the popular vote now trends center-left and it is dangerous to not play more to the middle. Yes I want my conservative planet but I/we do not own the entire planet. Its give and take people. Get the most of what you can and be thankful.
People who have ever encouraged us to "vote strategically" should have no problems with Dems and Indies taking advantage of the election laws in Michigan.
People who will tell us to vote for whatever Republican remains standing in November should also have no problems with this. After all, they are voting pragmatically rather than ideologically.
But of course those will be the exact people who are the most upset by what Lieberman and DailyKoS are advocating.
It is wrong that a private association like the Republican Party has to have its procedures violated by a vote of the people of Michigan. If the Republicans in Michigan agreed to this, then they are just reaping what they have sown.
But my own thought is that if Dems do crossover to vote Republican, they will most likely vote Romney thinking that he will be the weakest candidate in the general election.
So everyone might in the end get what they wish for: the pragmatists will get to vote strategically, and McCain will be sidelined.
McCain asked Michael Medved if Lieberman would make a good VP choice, and Medved told him “yes”.
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