Word that Lieberman might accept a Bush cabinet post generated speculation in Connecticut about whom Governor Rell might appoint to fill the seat Lieberman has held since 1988. One veteran GOP strategist said privately Monday that the seat would be "Nancy Johnson’s to turn down" because of her seniority and because the Bush White House wouldn’t particularly care to see U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4, in the U.S. Senate.
If Bush taps Lieberman: Sen. Nancy Johnson?
12/14/2004
By JOSEPH STRAW
Journal Register News Service
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WASHINGTON -- With his name swirling as a top choice to head the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman’s spokesman denied Monday that he has been offered the job.
"Sen. Lieberman has not received an offer, nor is he seeking one," said Leslie Phillips, a spokesman for the Connecticut Democrat.
And speculation among whom Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell might appoint to replace him centered around 5th District Congressman Nancy Johnson, R-New Britain.
The senior Republican in Connecticut’s congressional delegation, Johnson would serve through the end of his current term in 2007.
Lieberman was in Louisiana Monday celebrating Hanukkah with family and was not available for comment on Sunday’s unattributed report that President Bush was "courting" him for a cabinet post, likely Secretary of Homeland Security.
The report was accompanied by a chorus of calls Sunday from colleagues in Congress for Lieberman’s appointment. Lawmakers including U.S. Sens. John McCain R-Ariz. and Susan Collins, R-Maine, were joined by U.S. Sens. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Lieberman spent the early part of holiday recess making fund-raising telephone calls for his 2006 re-election bid, with plans to hire campaign staff in the new year, staff said.
The cabinet appointment opened Friday, when former New York city Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his name, citing his employment of a foreign worker without filing payroll taxes.
Appointing Lieberman to the cabinet post would leave it to Rell to appoint a replacement to fill his Senate seat.
The appointment would also politically benefit Bush by tempering Democrats’ ability to criticize the department’s actions, said Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report.
"Picking a Democrat would allow the president to talk about bipartisanship. It also makes it more difficult for Democrats to criticize actions on the part of Homeland Security, with his integrity, and his standing as a long-term Democratic office-holder," Rothenberg said.
Word that Lieberman might accept a Bush cabinet post generated speculation in Connecticut Monday about whom Rell might appoint to fill the seat Lieberman has held since 1988.
Rell refused to join what she called "the name game" going on over Lieberman and possible replacements. "I want to see if there is any real truth or if it’s just speculation," Rell said.
Although Rell refused to rule out the possibility that she might name a Democrat to the seat if a vacancy occurs, most Connecticut GOP politicians were focusing on who in their own party might be a likely candidate. And the name most frequently mentioned in some Republican quarters is that of Johnson.
One veteran GOP strategist said privately Monday that the seat would be "Nancy Johnson’s to turn down" because of her seniority and because the Bush White House wouldn’t particularly care to see U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4, in the U.S. Senate.
"It seems logical that the first tier would be our three Republican congresspeople," said state House Minority Leader Robert M. Ward, R-North Branford.
Ward said he hasn’t spoken to Rell on the issue and that it would entirely be her call, but he added that he isn’t sure there is any "most likely candidate" yet.
State GOP Chairman Herb Shepardson also declined to speculate Monday, other than to agree with Ward that Johnson, Shays and U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2, would normally be at the top of any list of potential candidates.
And at least one Democrat made it clear Monday that he would be interested in running for the seat -- state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. If Lieberman got the job, said Blumenthal, it could "change the political landscape here in Connecticut by opening a Senate seat. Certainly I would have an interest in it. But we’ll have to wait and see what happens in Washington."
Rell and Blumenthal both extolled the virtues of a Lieberman appointment.
"I think he is a very good man and very forthright individual. And I’m sure he would be an asset no matter where he stood," said Rell.
And Blumenthal called it a "very exciting and promising opportunity for the country because he (Lieberman) would be such a great secretary for Homeland Security."
Others mentioned with Lieberman as possible appointees include Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary of homeland security for border and transportation security, and White House homeland security advisor Fran Townsend.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
©The Register Citizen 2004
