Lieberman Announces New Group 'Citizens for McCain'

Hot off the presses from the McCain campaign, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) sent out a mass email to McCain supporters announcing a new group, "Citizens for McCain," of which Lieberman is the creator and chair. The Connecticut senator, a former Democrat, caused quite a stir yesterday, when he took part in a conference call organized by the McCain campaign. During the call, Lieberman took issue with some of Sen. Barack Obama's remarks before the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee convention in Washington. From the email:

Citizens for McCain is an organization within the McCain campaign for people who put country before political party and support the candidate for President who has a proven record of bipartisanship.

As you know, I caucus with the Democrats as a United States Senator and was the Democrat Party's nominee for Vice-President of the United States against President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

But first and foremost, I am an American. I have an obligation to do what I think is best for our nation regardless of political party. My love for this country and strong belief in John McCain's character, judgment, and willingness to work with leaders of both parties has convinced me to support him for President.

I have worked with John McCain for many years in the U.S. Senate and know from experience that he can unite Democrats, Republicans and Independents like no one else in this country. He did it in the United States Senate and he can do it as President of the United States.

The email contains an appeal to "help us by recruiting your friends, family and coworkers who may not consider themselves part of the Republican Party." Lieberman praises McCain for "his courage to stand up to the failed Iraq war plan of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld," and he makes another overture to Hillary Clinton supporters.

The phones at the campaign headquarters have been ringing with disaffected Democrats calling to say they believe Senator McCain has the experience, judgment, and bipartisanship necessary to lead our country in these difficult times. Many of these supporters are former supporters of Senator Clinton.

Senator McCain has had a very good working relationship with Senator Clinton and will continue to do so in the future. In the same New Orleans speech he said:

"Senator Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage. The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans, and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received. As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend."

I guess whatever Obama said to Lieberman on the Senate floor yesterday didn't have the desired effect, as it appears Lieberman is on the McCain train full-time.

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