Lieberman appeals to non-GOPers for McCain

WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ind-Conn., has begun a group to get non-Republicans to campaign for Sen. John McCain, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee.

The former Democrat who still caucuses with the party started Citizens for McCain, a group that he says is for people supporting a presidential candidate who can build consensus, The Hill reported Friday.

"I am confident we will find many Democrats and independents who, like John McCain and me, put country before political party and will support a leader with a real record of bipartisanship," Lieberman said in a letter to McCain backers.

Lieberman appears to target supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who lost the Democratic nomination to Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the report said.

"Sen. McCain has had a very good working relationship with Sen. Clinton and will continue to do so in the future," Lieberman wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Lieberman's committee assignments are safe, even if he campaigns against Obama, the Washington publication said.

Lieberman's chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee isn't at risk, Reid's aides say, because stripping him could prompt him to caucus with Republicans and give the GOP Senate control.