Lieberman More Than Just Gore’s Running Mate

Al Gore’s black limousine rolled to a stop. Half a block away, several thousand placard-wielding Gore supporters patiently awaited his arrival at an outdoor rally, braving the scorching midday sun.

But the vice president was in no hurry. He was having too much fun in the back seat chatting up his new best friend: Joe Lieberman.

Outside, Karenna Gore Schiff’s spirits soared when she saw the silhouette of her father engrossed in conversation with the Connecticut senator.

After being so alone out on the campaign trail all these months, Dad at last had found a partner with whom to share in this unique, punishing quest.

“It’s been like a burst of wind in our sail,” the vice president’s eldest daughter said.

Her father, only days away from arriving in Los Angeles to claim his party’s presidential nomination, picked up the nautical theme as well at one campaign stop: “All I know is that, since I picked Joe, I’ve felt the wind at my back.”

Gore’s almost overnight transformation into a candidate with a happy, easygoing style is taking many longtime party activists by surprise.

At a rally Friday morning in Bridgeport, Pa., Democratic Rep. Joseph Hoeffel could hardly contain himself after hearing both men speak.

“The vice president’s lively. He’s animated. He’s hitting on all cylinders,” Hoeffel said. “Lieberman energizes Gore and Gore energizes Lieberman. There’s a great synergy there.”

Only time will tell whether that dynamic proves lasting, of course. But at this rate, convention-goers in Los Angeles and television viewers beyond are likely to see a Gore whom they may have trouble recognizing.

“Running for president is a tag-team affair. After all these months, Gore finally has someone with him, who knows him very well, and they’re getting along great,” said Greg Simon, a longtime Gore advisor.

Lieberman’s arrival on the scene also has allowed Gore to think and act in the role of top dog instead of understudy.

“It’s a part of the emergence of a vice president into the senior member of a team,” Simon noted.

Lieberman’s uplifting effect on Gore has been evident all week.

Surrounded by several hundred women at Bridgeport’s Little Souls Inc., a doll-making business, the pair engaged in a free-flowing dialogue that touted their agenda and critiqued that of their GOP opponents.

As Lieberman spoke, standing at a lectern, Gore playfully ducked behind him to fetch an infant’s dropped toy, momentarily distracting Lieberman. The senator quickly recovered by explaining that both he and Gore are grandfathers.

When another infant wailed incessantly from the other side of the room, Gore waved, winked and then mouthed these words to the baby’s nerve-racked mother: “It’s all right.”

Gore and Lieberman also playfully joked while at a town hall meeting Wednesday in Gore’s hometown of Carthage, Tenn.

During the gathering, as Gore recounted--with mock disapproval--how several Lieberman family members years ago had emigrated from Tennessee to Connecticut, Lieberman cut in:

“This could be the first breach in a great friendship.”

Gore and Lieberman have known each other for nearly 15 years. They often have dined at each other’s homes. The Liebermans attended Karenna Gore’s wedding. And Gore was one of the few Democrats who backed Lieberman in his first Senate campaign.

All week long, Lieberman with great relish has been performing the role of Gore’s top cheerleader, calling him at one point “this great son of Carthage.”

After their Bridgeport joint appearance, the men bid each other a temporary farewell.

Lieberman was breaking off for a short weekend at home before heading for Los Angeles.

Behind closed doors in a room at Little Souls, the two men paused momentarily and looked at each other. Gore spoke first.

“We’ve had a great week,” the vice president said.

“I’m going to miss you,” the senator replied.

They hugged.