All eyes on Lieberman

ST. PAUL — Democrats will closely watch Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (I-Conn.) primetime speech to the Republican convention Tuesday to see whether he attacks Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Despite some requests from Democratic senators that he not speak here, the Democrats’ 2000 vice presidential nominee will deliver a nationally televised keynote speech Tuesday night.

{mosads}The Connecticut senator has already angered some of his Democratic colleagues with his strong advocacy of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential bid, and animosity would be fueled if he delivers harsh words against Sen. Obama (D-Ill.), according to Democratic aides and senators.

Lieberman already has an uneasy alliance with Senate Democrats, and escalating tensions could put his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in jeopardy next Congress.

Democratic leaders say they don’t have plans to remove Lieberman, who votes with them on most domestic issues, caucuses with them and gives them their 51-49 Senate majority. But that could change next year if Democrats win more seats in November and don’t need Lieberman to keep their Senate majority.

Lieberman has previously said he will not attack Obama, and instead will deliver a speech praising the service and bipartisan appeal of McCain, who is expected to accept the nomination here Thursday night.

A spokesman for Lieberman could not be reached for comment.

Democrats express concern that Lieberman, perhaps the country’s most prominent Jewish politician, could help push Jewish voters toward McCain and away from Obama.

“If he speaks out and raises questions, concerns about a candidate’s posture on an issue that Jews follow, absolutely the Jewish community will take it very seriously,” said Jason Isaacson, director of government and international affairs of the non-partisan American Jewish Committee. 

Isaacson pointed to the country’s stance on Iran, the security of Israel and anti-Semitism as core Jewish concerns.

Over the last two presidential election cycles, Republicans have increased their standing with Jewish voters. According to the Pew Research Center, President Bush attracted about one-quarter of Jewish voters in 2004, six percentage points higher than in 2000.

In 2008, anywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent of the Jewish vote could go GOP, Isaacson predicted.

Conservative Republicans had expressed concern that McCain might pick Lieberman, who is pro-choice and liberal on most social issues, as his running mate. Now that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been chosen, they are embracing Lieberman’s role as a McCain surrogate who can testify to the senator’s bipartisan nature.

“That’s a benefit,” said Chuck Donovan, executive vice president of the Family Research Council.

Should McCain win the presidency, Lieberman is seen as a possible Cabinet member. That could spare him from retaliation within his Democratic Caucus, but also could raise concerns from the right if he is appointed to a domestic agency.

“I wouldn’t put him in the head of [Health and Human Services], but I would put him in the State Department and I’d put him in the Defense Department without hesitation,” said former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.).