Lieberman gives support to Carnahan

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan campaigned among senior citizens in Kansas City and Columbia, Mo., Thursday alongside colleague Joseph Lieberman, her party's unsuccessful vice presidential nominee.

Lieberman and Vice President Dick Cheney, who spoke in Cape Girardeau Thursday on behalf of Republican U.S. Senate nominee Jim Talent, were the latest high-profile politicians imported to Missouri for an election that could decide Senate control. And President Bush will speak at a rally in St. Charles on Monday, the White House announced Thursday.

Lieberman joined Mrs. Carnahan for stops at senior citizens centers in Kansas City and Columbia, admonishing voters that if the Senate doesn't stay in Democratic hands, President Bush will be "a rubber stamp for the right-wing agenda of the Republican Congress."

"The future of America is going to be decided right here in Missouri, with Jean Carnahan's election," said Lieberman, of Connecticut.

The Senate breakdown is 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats, one independent and one vacancy -- created by Minnesota Democrat Paul Wellstone's death in a plane crash last Friday.

Talent said in an interview that he thinks most voters have settled on their Senate choice.

"I have a record that shows I can make that system work for them, for Missouri values, and for undecided voters especially, I hope they'll look at that," Talent said.

Close race

Recent polls have shown the race too close to call.

Mrs. Carnahan said she has been fully supportive of President Bush in the war on terrorism, but has questions about how federal personnel are dealt with in the proposed homeland security agency.

About 120 enthusiastic retirees welcomed Carnahan, Lieberman and U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan to the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church Senior Activity Center in Kansas City.

The three lawmakers stirred together a defense of Carnahan's patriotism with lots of talk about Social Security and a prescription drug benefit for Medicare.