Obama supports keeping Lieberman in caucus

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, who supported the Republican presidential ticket, should remain in the Democratic caucus, President-elect Barack Obama said.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Obama told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that expelling Lieberman for his support of Republican John McCain would send the wrong message.

"President-elect Obama looks forward to working with anyone to move the country forward," Obama transition spokesperson Stephanie Cutter said. "We'd be happy to have Senator Lieberman caucus with the Democrats. We don't hold any grudges."

Lieberman of Connecticut, one of two independents who caucus and generally vote with the Democrats, is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Some Democrats have suggested that Lieberman should be stripped of his chairmanship. Reid said Sunday that Democrats could offer Lieberman an alternative post.

"The caucus has a decision to make and they're going to make it ... whether we're going to say, 'OK, we've had enough of you, Joe, go vote with the Republicans' or whether we're going to try to work something out with Joe Lieberman," Reid said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition."