McCain: ‘I Hope’ Lieberman Doesn’t Lose Committee Spot

Sen. John McCain said he hopes Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) doesn’t lose his committee chairmanship because he supported the Arizona Republican’s presidential bid.

“I hope not,” McCain told Jay Leno when asked if Lieberman will lose his position as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senate Democratic leadership has been mulling whether or not Lieberman should face retaliation for having campaigned against Barack Obama.

“On national security issues, he’s really, really good,” McCain said.

McCain also said he does not believe Lieberman will leave the Democrats, with whom he ran for the vice presidency in 2000, to caucus with Republicans in the Senate.

“I think that Joe is going to probably remain what he is: an independent who stands up for what he believes in,” McCain said.

–Michael O’Brien