Lieberman defends McCain from suggestion of improper relationship
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. --Sen. Joe Lieberman defended Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Thursday, calling a
Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with Democrats but has endorsed McCain's presidential bid, made his remarks during a stop at a Middletown diner.
"The story I think is outrageously unfair to him. There's no 'there' there," Lieberman told reporters before stepping into O'Rourke's Diner. "I'm so far pleased with the reaction from people because they see no case there. There's nothing new in that story."
The Arizona senator has emphatically denied a romantic relationship with the female telecommunications lobbyist named in the Times story. He describes the woman in question, lobbyist Vicki Iseman, as a friend.
Lieberman has faced criticism from Democrats for supporting McCain, but several diners eating breakfast during his visit didn't seem to mind. He led them in singing "Happy Birthday" to 81-year-old Frances Rogalsky of Portland, who called the four-term senator "very nice," but declined to say if she supports him.
Taffy Hyyppa, 51, of Portland, is accustomed to crossing party lines. She is an unaffiliated voter, supports Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and comes from a family of Republicans. As for Lieberman's support of McCain?
"That's fine," she said.
Lieberman also congratulated owner Brian O'Rourke on reopening the diner, gutted by fire in August 2006. O'Rourke said he has welcomed all politicians for decades.
"I stay right in the middle of the fence," O'Rourke said. "I welcome them on both sides of the counter."
Lieberman told reporters Thursday that he hasn't yet decided whether he'll attend the Republican convention this summer, but will speak if McCain asks.
After losing the 2006 Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut to Ned Lamont, Lieberman defied party leaders and ran as an independent in the general election to keep his seat with some help from prominent Republicans.
Lieberman's campaign appearances for McCain in states such as New Hampshire, Arizona and Florida have stirred speculation about him possibly serving as McCain's running mate. But Lieberman, who nearly won the vice presidency as a Democrat in 2000 alongside Al Gore, has ruled out sharing the 2008 GOP ticket with McCain.
Lieberman's associations with Republicans worry Democrats. His defection to the GOP could shift control of the narrowly divided Senate away from Democrats, who need Lieberman's vote to maintain their fragile 51-49 Senate majority.
But when asked if he stills feel comfortable caucusing with the Democrats, Lieberman said Thursday he does.
"I agree with Democrats on a lot of policies," he said. 