The news that Joe Lieberman, the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee in 2000, is to endorse John McCain, a Republican, for the presidency today, raises the question: has anyone who was on one of the main party’s tickets endorsed a presidential candidate from the other party within just eight years, before?
Lieberman’s decision to endorse McCain now means—oddly enough—that he’ll face less criticism from Democrats than if he had waited. If Lieberman’s support for McCain is known it will have less impact in a general election if McCain is the Republican nominee. While if McCain misses out on the nomination and Lieberman returns to the Democratic fold it will be a newsworthy event.
The value of the endorsement for McCain is that it bolsters his chances with independents in New Hampshire whose support he desperately needs if he is to win in this do or die state for him. With both the big newspapers in New
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