Will Dems Dump Lieberman Over RNC Speech?

According to Robert Novak, Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman's estrangement from his former party may soon become a decisive break if Lieberman speaks at the Republican National Convention. Novak claims the move would come next year after the new Congress is seated. Lieberman, an outspoken McCain supporter, would lose his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee if the Democrats oust him from their caucus.

Mark Liebovich of The New York Times wrote about the growing tension between Lieberman and the Democrats, which recently spilled over into the lunchroom. Liebovich recounts the tale of Lieberman joining his former party members for lunch, only to have to pack up early when the conversation turned from gas prices and Medicare to the election.

Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2000, remains undecided on whether he will speak at the RNC, saying, "I would not go to speak to attack Barack Obama. I would go to say why I'm supporting John McCain."

Greg Sargent at TPM points out that campaign promises Lieberman made in 2006 make his support for McCain problematic in his home state of Connecticut where Lieberman's approval recently dipped to 45%. During a 2006 debate with rival Ned Lamont, Lieberman said he wanted to help elect a Democrat to the presidency in 2008. The Horses Mouth chronicled ten instances of Lieberman vowing to caucus with the Democrats, including one instance where he said, "I've been a Democrat for 40 years, I'll die a Democrat, I'll probably be a Democrat after my death, I may still be voting Democrat in some cities in Connecticut postmortem."