Lieberman Styles Himself After Clinton, McCain
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It's hard to tell these days whether Joe Lieberman (search) is campaigning for himself, John McCain or Bill Clinton (search).
At numerous campaign stops this week, the Democratic presidential hopeful has praised McCain and Clinton, aligning himself with their moderate political beliefs and reliving their victories on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
The latest leg of Lieberman's struggling campaign aims to recapture the surprising momentum Clinton built when he became the "Comeback Kid" in New Hampshire in 1992, and then went to score second-place in the primary and eventually win the presidency.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lieberman told campaign crowds Tuesday he is the only Democratic candidate who could build on the Clinton legacy and move the country forward.
"With his magnificent skills, he reconnected with enough voters to get elected. I'm trying to take that legacy and apply it to this new moment in history," Lieberman told reporters.
He is resurrecting famous lines — such as Clinton's quotation that he will fight for the American middle-class "until the last dog dies".
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Earlier this week, more than 275 independent voters joined the 180 former "McCainiacs" already promoting the Connecticut senator.
He told a group of campaign workers earlier this week the independents will see him through the primary, because he is "the closest to John McCain (search) as they can get" and appealed to the same kind of independent voters who sent McCain to a stunning victory in New Hampshire four years ago.
He proudly lists the legislation on which he and McCain collaborated for the last 15 years in the U.S. Senate, telling supporters he and McCain share the trait of talking straight and not worrying about how unpopular it makes them.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}And although Clinton is a Democrat, and McCain a Republican, Lieberman contends their politics are not inconsistent.
Neither was afraid to take on special interest groups within their own parties, and ultimately end up in the mainstream center of American politics, Lieberman said.
Clinton has not endorsed any Democratic candidate, but Lieberman said that does not detract from his conviction that he is the best heir to the Clinton legacy. Lieberman predicted Clinton will not endorse a candidate in the primary but will stand by whoever becomes the Democratic nominee.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nor will Clinton's personal scandals stop Lieberman from singing his praises, even though he publicly denounced his behavior five years ago.