Connecticut Supports Lieberman’s Decision to Return Home
WASHINGTON -A day after he quit the presidential race, Sen. Joseph Lieberman served up his “cup of Joe” in his native Connecticut Wednesday.
“Running for president was a great journey,” Lieberman, a Connecticut Democrat, told supporters. “But it is very good to be home.”
Lieberman, 61, dropped out of the race Tuesday night after finishing poorly in most of that day’s seven primaries and caucuses.
The three-term Connecticut senator placed fifth in the New Hampshire primary last week but refused to withdraw before Tuesday in the hope that he could win Delaware . Instead, he came in a distant second, behind frontrunner John Kerry, with only 11 percent of the vote.
Lieberman spoke to his supporters in a “Farewell Rally” Wednesday afternoon in Hartford . He personally addressed his fellow Connecticut lawmakers, Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-3 rd District, and John Larson, D-1 st District, thanking them for their “selfless dedication to my campaign.”
Lieberman also thanked his colleague, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., calling him his “best friend in the world.”
Lieberman was the only one of this year’s Democratic presidential candidated to have run on a national ticket — he was Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate in 2000 -which initially gave his campaign a boost. The Gore-Lieberman ticket won the popular vote but lost the election in the Electoral College, making Lieberman a confident candidate when he entered the 2004 race in late 2002.
But what Lieberman prided as his “mainstream voice” never caught on with voters.
Connecticut officials from both parties welcomed Lieberman back from his year-long campaign and praised his public service and his conduct on the stump.
“I want to congratulate Sen. Lieberman for his outstanding conduct during the course of his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president,” said Gov. John Rowland, a Republican. “Joe is a gracious and humble public servant. He stood up for his beliefs in the quest for the highest office in the land. He is a true representative of the best of Connecticut and we are all proud of him.
“I wish Joe and his family all the best as he continues to serve our state in the U.S. Senate.”
“All of Connecticut is proud of Joe,” Dodd said. “He waged a valiant fight on the presidential campaign trail and he helped spotlight issues of importance to our state and nation. I am just pleased that we’ll continue to have him ably representing the people of our state in the United States Senate.”
Rep. Robert Simmons, R-2 nd District, applauded Lieberman on his decision to bow out and praised what he called a “presidential performance.”
“Our fellow citizens in Connecticut will be well served with Sen. Lieberman back from the campaign trail working on local issues,” Simmons added. “At the same time I admire and congratulate Sen. Lieberman for his unwavering and courageous stand on many issues during the campaign.”
Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-5 th District, said: ” Connecticut should be proud of Joe and his campaign for president. He’s a good man and he ran a principled campaign that distinguished him as a candidate.”
Some Connecticut residents expressed regret that Lieberman would not end up in the White House.
“I think that as a person from Connecticut , I am disappointed,” said New London resident Valerie Tamano, an employee of the school district. “But certainly, I know that he gave it his all, and if he sees at this time that it is not going to work out for him, then it’s a choice that he made. The fact that he did it so early on is a wise choice.”
