Why did Lieberman run for his Senate seat while being Gore's running mate?

[Cascadian]

Didn't anybody wonder about this? Didn't you think it was strange for Lieberman to run for his Senate seat in 2000 while being Al Gore's running mate? It would seem as if he knew Gore was not going to get the White House particularly with his stupid so-called "debate" with Dick Cheney. It's as if he was riding on Gore's coatails during the whole campaign. Like he wasn't taking it seriously. I swear if he was not bought by the Republicans and doing his best to help neutralize the Democrats.

John

[dArKeR]

1. To cover his sweet little butt which was a good idea. Any of us would have

done the same.

[charlie]

2. Strange? Nah.

Lloyd Bentsen did the same in 1988. So did LBJ.

[Cascadian]

3. I never knew that but I wonder if....

when they do that it usually means their presidential running mate is going to lose?

John

[JohnKleeb]

4. I dont know really

but it has happened in the past though.

[diamondsoul]

14. I believe Kucinich is running to

retain his seat in the House I suspect just to remain on the hill even if he doesn't get on the Presidential ballot.

[charlie]

5. Well, it's not exactly a vote of confidence

But for the running mate, I imagine it can be an irresistable boon -- he/she can enjoy the glitz of a national campaign injected into their senate run.

At the same time though, there's good reason to hedge against the double-whammy of losing both the Oval Office and a senate seat.

I don't think it hurts the presidential ticket. The VP contender is going to be doing heavy campaigning in his/her state anyway, may as well apply that energy toward a senate seat for insurance.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. One thing you should know is that Gephardt is not doing this

He is not running for re-election. He is putting all he has into his run for the presidency. He is putting aside his 27-year career in the House, where he had the leadership position. If he doesn't get the nomination, it is all over for him, like it was for Bob Dole when he lost to Clinton. I have seen Gephardt referred to as the Democratic Bob Dole.

BTW, I thought Gephardt was excellent in tonight's debate.:-)

[JohnKleeb]

7. I like Gephardt

hes pretty good on most things, a secretary of labor if DK wins :) imo but I like the idea of giving that job to AFL-CIO head John Sweeney not your congressman Rhi.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Thank you, JohnKleeb!

I do not want to see my congressman in any position of power! He's doing enough damage right where he is!

As for Gephardt, I have a friend who is working for him in New Hampshire, towards the N.H. primary. He used to be her representative when she lived in St. Louis, so she got to know him. She has said repeatedly how much she has liked what he has to say when she has heard him speak and I now see what she means. He was on fire tonight and I have been impressed with several recent interviews. He is obviously the first choice of labor. What would you think of a Gephardt/Kucinich ticket?:shrug:

[Shanty Oilish]

8. That was when I started not to like Lieberman.

I thought it was disgraceful, but you can't say that when you've been longing to see Gore win the presidency for four election cycles.
Straddling, hedging his bet, that looked awful, and barely legal.

[jiacinto]

12. Question

Did you feel the same way about LBJ and Lloyd Bentsen, both of whom also ran for re-election when they were on the ticket?

[Rhiannon12866]

10. He's also running for his senate seat this time around,

isn't he? (Gephardt is not running for re-election in Missouri.) I was talking with some people after the other night's Democratic forum. They aren't fond of Lieberman, either. This subject came up, that he ran for his senate seat while also running for vice president. One of them wondered if he didn't already know something about what the outcome would be.:shrug:

[hedda_foil]

13. Senate terms are 6 years, not 4.

His Senate seat is his until January 2007.

[jiacinto]

11. Singling out Lieberman for that is unfair

LBJ ran for his seat in 1960.
So did Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.

So why are the not being criticized? This just another pathetic attempt by the Lieberman haters to attack him.