Elections Today
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Recent Projections
| State | Candidate | Delegates |
|---|---|---|
 Donald Trump | ||
Pennsylvania |  Joe Biden |
McCain Reluctant to Ask Lieberman for Support
The 2000 Democratic VP candidate's endorsement crossed party lines.
Dec. 17, 2007— -- When Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., visited Iraq for three days over the Thanksgiving holiday with a congressional delegation that included Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., they discussed his presidential quest.
A couple of weeks later, according to a McCain campaign aide, McCain called Lieberman — approached him on "bent knee," as McCain facetiously put it — to ask if the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee would endorse him. At the time, McCain was gaining in the polls in New Hampshire but still trailed Mitt Romney, former governor of the neighboring state of Massachusetts, by a double-digit margin.
McCain said today he was reluctant to ask for Lieberman's help. "I didn't want to do anything that may cause damage to his political future. I just asked him, and I said, 'I'd like to have your support,'" he said. "I felt it would be impactful; otherwise, I wouldn't have asked for it."
Lieberman took a few days to think about it. He discussed it with his wife, Hadassah, and his children. Apparently, the family advice was not unanimous.
"I think Joe would be the first to tell you he got very mixed opinions," McCain said.
In the end, Lieberman told his Senate colleague and old friend that he would endorse him.
"John McCain is the best candidate to be president, and … the election of the president this year is too important to be decided just on partisanship," Lieberman said.
Standing outside in the crisp, subfreezing sunshine, as he was about to head back to Washington, D.C., Lieberman was asked by a reporter how his endorsement across party lines might affect his standing with the Senate Democratic Caucus.
He smiled mischievously. "I'm the 51st vote, so ..." He left the sentence unfinished. He was, of course, alluding to the fact that he — along with Vermont independent Bernie Sanders, who also caucuses with the Democrats — provides the party's Senate majority.
If he were to defect to the GOP Caucus, the Senate would be split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, giving Vice President Dick Cheney the deciding vote in case of a tie.
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