Ex-Democrat VP hopeful Lieberman to address Republicans
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Senator Joseph Lieberman, Al Gore's Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, will appear at this year's Republican convention in support of party White House nominee John McCain.
The Republican Party announced Wednesday that Lieberman, who sits as an independent in the Senate after breaking with the Democrats over Iraq, will speak on the first night of the convention on Monday September 1.
Lieberman, 66, a national security hawk and supporter of the Iraq war, has emerged as one of McCain's key lieutenants and even been mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate for the Republican presumptive nominee.
He has savaged Obama's credentials to serve as commander-in-chief, travelled with McCain abroad, and campaigned for him in areas which have high concentrations of Jewish voters.
Lieberman made history by becoming the first Jewish candidate on a major party presidential ticket when he was chosen by Gore in 2000 and also ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in 2004 in his own right.
He will be joined on the first evening's program in St. Paul Minnesota by former action star and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush will also appear on the first night. Democrats will be keen to portray McCain as representing four more years of Bush administration policies, given the US leader's deep unpopularity.
Other high profile speakers at the convention include former New York mayor and Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani who will give a speech on September 2.
Several of McCain's possible vice presidential running mates are also on the bill, including Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and former Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
Democratic activists have branded Lieberman a "traitor" for his outspoken support for the Bush administration.
In 2006, Lieberman lost a primary election for the Democratic party's nomination in his home state of Connecticut but was re-elected to the Senate as an independent in the November general election.
