Will Sen. Lieberman Be Marching In Newtown?

By Steve Bigham

Will Senator Joseph Lieberman be marching in Newtown’s 39th annual Labor Day Parade?

The answer has not yet come down from the Democratic vice presidential candidate’s office, although most people believe America’s newest celebrity probably has too many “bigger fish to fry.” Nevertheless, parade organizers and town residents are having fun wondering.

Parade committee member Lynda McDow figures it is a “snowball’s chance in hell” that Senator Lieberman will be on hand, but she is getting a kick out of all the excitement.

“I think it’s great that there’s a small-town newspaper in Connecticut that is asking, ‘where’s Joe?,’” she said Tuesday.

Parade organizers have placed the onus on bringing the vice presidential candidate to Newtown on the shoulders of the local Democratic Party. This week, party leader Earl J. Smith predicted Sen Lieberman will not be among the throng of marchers who will make their way down Main Street on the morning of September 4.

“In all probability, he will not be with us,” Mr Smith said Monday.

 The main reason, he figured, was the Secret Service, which has encircled Senator Lieberman since Vice President Al Gore selected him to be his running mate two weeks ago. Mr Smith was in Stamford August 9 when the Democratic ticket turned out for a rally. He recalls a very heavy Secret Service presence, complete with dogs.

Parade organizer Lisa Franze is not counting Senator Lieberman out, saying stranger things have happened. She believes Senator Lieberman, and maybe even Al Gore, could stroll their way down Main Street come Labor Day morning.

“It would turn the town on its head,” she predicted.

Senator Lieberman did march in the parade during his election years of 1988 and 1994. Mr Smith recalled one year when Senator Lieberman informed Newtown that he wished to take part in the parade, but would probably be a little late. True to his word, the Connecticut politician showed up a little late, but joined the march already in progress with his daughters.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said Senator Lieberman would most certainly have been on hand for the parade had he not been selected as Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate. His senatorial seat is up for election this year and the senator’s name will be on the ballot for both offices in November.