In middle of road, Lieberman hits bumps
By BILL ADAIR
St. Petersburg Times
25-AUG-03
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- As John Durkin sits in a corner booth at the Merrimack Restaurant, eating scrambled eggs beneath framed photos of Bill Clinton, Al Gore and other presidential candidates, he has harsh words for the presumptive heir to Clinton-Gore, Sen. Joe Lieberman.
Durkin, a former U.S. senator, says Lieberman brought an important spark to the Democratic ticket three years ago. Lieberman's son even worked on one of Durkin's campaigns. But Durkin is unhappy with the Connecticut senator's recent comments that the party is becoming weak on defense and wants to raise taxes.
"He's intimated that almost everyone who doesn't agree with his right-wing perch is part of the 'loony left,' " says Durkin, who is uncommitted in the race.
"He's on a tear, he's criticizing everyone," Durkin adds. "Joe just seems to be on a self-destructive binge."
Lieberman has lots of advantages for his presidential campaign: sky-high name recognition, a top-notch staff and close ties to party activists around the nation. He's using the same centrist approach that helped Clinton win.
Yet he is struggling. He is fourth in the latest polls in New Hampshire and Iowa and his support has dropped in the past few months. Some voters say he lacks pizzazz and isn't offering enough new ideas....>> MORE
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