Lieberman tapped to McCain 'leadership team' in Conn.
HARTFORD, Conn. --Sen. Joe Lieberman has been named a chairman of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's state leadership team.
Lieberman, an Independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats, has endorsed the Arizona senator and campaigned for him in Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
He is heading McCain's Connecticut campaign with Republican Rep. Christopher Shays.
George Jepsen, former state Democratic Party chairman who supported Ned Lamont's successful challenge of Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary, said Lieberman's endorsement of McCain is an affront to Democrats who believed Lieberman when he said two years ago that he was committed to helping put a Democrat in the White House in 2008.
Chris Healy, chairman of the state Republican Party, said that should not concern McCain because those who dislike Lieberman will not vote in the Republican presidential primary on Feb. 5.
Lieberman has said he endorsed his Senate colleague as the best candidate of either party because of his national security credentials and because he believes McCain has the best shot at ending partisan gridlock.
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Information from: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com 