WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman’s support of the Iraq war threatened his re-election in 2006, when an anti-war fever ran high and Ned Lamont bested him in that state’s Democratic primary.
Lieberman, of course, went on to win the general election as an Independent Democrat, and was welcomed back into the party fold in Washington.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid often stands by Lieberman, saying the senator is with Democrats on most every issue — except the war.
But now Reid may need to add another exception to that list: Lieberman’s activities on behalf of a presidential candidate that is not the Democratic one.
Lieberman endorsed McCain, the presumed Republican candidate, months ago, and has told The Hill, a Washington newspaper, he would be willing to speak at the Republican National Convention if McCain asked him.
Reid is not pleased to have the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs potentially campaigning for the opposition.
“I think it’s wrong what he’s done, and I told him that,” Reid said Friday night during an interview with MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, the Hill reported.
The Hill went on: “Olbermann asked Reid if there was ‘anything that he could do that would make you move to take his leadership position away on Homeland Security.’ The majority leader responded: ‘Yes, of course,’ but did not elaborate.”
The paper added, “Democratic aides cautioned not to read too closely into Reid’s comments, saying stripping Lieberman of his chairmanship remained a very unlikely scenario.”
TPM’s Election Central notes Reid went on to say he would be watching the situation closely.
The liberal blogosphere has been keeping an eye on Lieberman, monitoring his work on behalf of McCain, as TPM reported yesterday. They’re also watching Reid’s reactions.
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