Lieberman rips Bush in attempt to woo Cubans

Posted on Wed, Jul. 30, 2003

Lieberman rips Bush in attempt to woo Cubans
BY PETER WALLSTEN
pwallsten@herald.com




IN THE RACE: Sen. Joseph Lieberman criticized Bush for returning 12 suspected boat hijackers to Cuba. JOE RIMKUS JR./HERALD STAFF


Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who hopes to woo traditionally Republican Cuban-American voters next year if he is the Democratic nominee for president, assailed President Bush Tuesday for an ''abandonment of American values'' in sending 12 Cuban boaters back to the island last week to serve prison time.

Lieberman's attack, delivered during a press conference sandwiched between South Florida fundraisers, marked the first push by a Democratic candidate for president to capitalize on a political rift within the Cuban exile community that has emerged in the days since the 12 suspected hijackers were sent back to Cuba.

While Lieberman is a supporter of the trade embargo with Cuba and has a history of close ties with exile leaders, his comments Tuesday underscored a broader push by national Democrats -- and several of the party's other presidential hopefuls -- to appeal to an unlikely voting bloc that could help them take Florida's critical 27 electoral votes next year.

PUSHING FOR FLORIDA

Lieberman and Florida Sen. Bob Graham, who is also seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, are two of the party's most popular figures among Cuban-American voters. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/6414475.htm

Bush getting some competition for the Republican nomination.

This was a story from July 30, and there was already a separate thread on this.

As long as the target is Lieberman it's okay.