Gore Picks Lieberman as Running Mate

Aug. 7 -- Al Gore made history today, tapping Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate, the first time in U.S. history that a Jewish person has run on a national ticket. Lieberman called the pick “a miracle.”

The Connecticut senator, in New Haven, accepted the offer while speaking to the vice president via cell phone.

“It’s a special honor to be asked to run for vice president by a man I deeply believe in,” Lieberman had said earlier.

With most of the speculation centering on other candidates late Sunday, Lieberman said he went to bed “convinced” that he “had no chance to get it.”

But, he said, “Miracles happen … I consider this a miracle for which I’m grateful.”

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Though he has served just two terms in the Senate, Lieberman already wields significant influence, largely due to his level-headed ability to work across party lines. But the 58-year-old Yale graduate doesn’t always walk in lock step with the Democrats and, in fact, was one of the harshest critics of President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Back then, he had lambasted Clinton for being “immoral” and “harmful.” Today, Lieberman praised the Clinton administration as “strong, steady, progressive and humane.”

Picking this centrist signals an effort by Gore to win over independents and to distance himself from Clinton’s controversies.

On Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., the president today lavished praise on Lieberman, referring to him as “a friend of mine for 30 years.” Clinton refused to answer questions about the Connecticut senator’s past criticism of his morality, saying he did not want to overshadow Lieberman’s day.

“I think he’s just an extraordinary guy … he’s an amazing person,” Clinton said. “He’s been great for America with what he’s done in the Senate over the last eight years.”