US Democratic Senator Lieberman Joins in Race for White House

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 14, 2003

US Democratic Senator Lieberman Joins in Race for White House

US Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut declared Monday that he would run for presidency in 2004, becoming the first major party Jewish presidential contender in the US history.

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US Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut declared Monday that he would run for presidency in 2004, becoming the first major party Jewish presidential contender in the US history.

Announcing his decision at the high school he attended in Stamford, Connecticut, Lieberman said the nation can "renew the American dream. ... if our leaders are ready to lead, willing to fight for what's right for the American people and able to rise above partisan politics to put our country first."

"I am a candidate for president of the United States and I intend to win," The 60-year-old senator said.

Lieberman, who was Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2000,had promised not to run for presidency if Al Gore, the Democrat's presidential nominee in 2000, decided to join in the race for the White House. Gore announced in December that he would not run.

"Two years ago, we were promised a better America, but that promise has not been kept," Lieberman said.

Lieberman said his priorities were to restore economic growth, defeat terrorism and make America safe.

Other Democrats who have joined in the race for presidential nomination are Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Missouri Representative Dick Gephardt, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry andNorth Carolina Senator John Edwards.

Among the others considering a bid are Connecticut's senior senator, Christopher Dodd, Senators Bob Graham of Florida and Joseph Biden of Delaware, as well as former Senator Gary Hart of Colorado and the civil rights activists Al Sharpton.

Commenting on Lieberman's announcement to run, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that President George W. Bush "looks forward to welcoming whoever wants to run."

Lieberman, Connecticut's senator since 1988, already made history in 2000 when he became the first Jew chosen as a vice presidential candidate.

Lieberman supports US military intervention in Iraq to disarm President Saddam Hussein. As a centrist Democrat, Lieberman has clashed with President George W. Bush on a number of issues, from investigation into the bankrupt Enron Corp. to Bush's designs for the Department of Homeland Security.

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