With the selection of Sen. Joe Lieberman as his running mate, Al Gore has made a bold and powerful statement about the direction in which he wants to lead America. Senator Lieberman, who is chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, is a progressive centrist committed both to the enduring values of the Democratic Party and to its modernization. He marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King, he has strong support from both organized labor and the environmental movement, and he is a friend of business who understands that robust economic growth is essential to an agenda of social progress.

Throughout his career as a state senator, attorney general and U.S. senator, Joe Lieberman has been an independent thinker and a reformer with a broad appeal across the entire political spectrum. His record as a New Democrat is strong: He has supported President Clinton on his economic agenda of fiscal discipline, expanding trade, and investing in people; he supported the President on welfare reform; he has been a leader on both education and campaign finance reform; and he is one of the best known advocates in America for cleaning up trash television. Finally, he brings to public life the higher sense of moral purpose that the American people crave.

His presence on the Democratic ticket will undoubtedly strengthen its appeal to supporters of Sen. John McCain and other critical swing voters in the fall election.

Senator Joe Lieberman is a terrific choice for America, the Democratic Party and the New Democrat movement. With his choice, Al Gore has reinforced the progress the Democratic Party has made in the last eight years in re-occupying the political center.