Former Democratic nominee for vice president Joe Lieberman endorsed Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who is facing a tough reelection battle.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday along with a campaign ad featuring Lieberman. Lieberman ran alongside former Vice President Al Gore in his 2000 presidential bid and served as a U.S. senator from Connecticut between 1989 and 2013.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I put my country first, always. That’s why I’m supporting Susan Collins for Senate,” Lieberman said in the ad, noting that he served alongside Collins while still on Capitol Hill. “She’s independent, thoughtful, and a fighter for women’s issues.”
Collins, one of the most centrist members of the Senate who has served the state since first being elected in 1996, is trailing in the polls to her rival, Sara Gideon. Gideon is the Democratic speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. A RealClearPolitics average of polls has Gideon leading Collins by a 4.5-point margin.
Lieberman touching on Collins’s support for “women’s issues” comes as she faces scrutiny in Maine, a reliably blue state, for her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of a decades-old sexual assault. Kavanaugh has also been criticized by Democrats for his stance on abortion.
Lieberman’s endorsement of Collins isn’t entirely surprising given that he is known for being a centrist and for his 2008 endorsement of Republican John McCain for president. Lieberman lost his Democratic primary in 2006 but ran as an independent candidate and later caucused with the Democrats. He endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election.
“Susan always stands up for Maine. She’s worked to create jobs, improve healthcare, and protect Maine’s environment,” Lieberman said. “You don’t get many like Susan Collins, and when you do, you keep them.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Collins for comment.
