Joe Lieberman, former senator, vice president nominee dies at 82. His ties to Palm Beach County

Former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the former Democratic vice presidential nominee, has died at 82, according to a statement from his family, multiple media reports said.

“Former United States Senator Joseph I. Lieberman died this afternoon, March 27, 2024, in New York City due to complications from a fall. He was 82 years old. His beloved wife, Hadassah, and members of his family were with him as he passed. Senator Lieberman’s love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest,” the statement said.

Lieberman, who got strong consideration in 2017 from then-President Donald Trump for the FBI director's job before withdrawing his name, has been a familiar figure in Palm Beach County — campaigning for presidential tickets but also playing a role in local elections.

Lieberman was the first Jewish candidate on a major-party presidential ticket when Democrat Al Gore tapped him as his running mate in 2000. Lieberman frequently campaigned in South Florida that year and enjoyed rock-star status in the heavily Jewish retirement communities of Palm Beach and Broward counties.

After forging a close friendship with former Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, Lieberman campaigned in 2004 for Wexler's hand-picked candidate for Palm Beach County elections chief, Arthur Anderson, to capitalize on Democratic resentment over the county's 2000 "butterfly ballot."

Lieberman also returned to the Palm Beach County condo circuit that fall on behalf of Democrat John Kerryas Democrats worried about losing some Jewish votes to pro-Israel President George W. Bush.

Lieberman ended up giving some credence to the Democratic fears, saying Bush had "a record of strong, consistent support for Israel. You can't say otherwise," but adding that Kerry "also been a strong and consistent supporter of Israel."

In 2005, Lieberman raised money for his 2006 Senate re-election in Boca Raton with the help of attorney Ted Deutch and spilled the beans that Deutch would run for state Senate in 2006. Deutch eventually became a member of Congress. He served from 2010-22.

Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary in Connecticut, largely over his support for the Iraq war but retained his Senate seat by running as an independent and winning in the general election.

(The losing Republican in that 2006 Connecticut election, Alan Schlesinger, later moved to Palm Beach County and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2014.)

Lieberman returned to Palm Beach County during the 2008 presidential campaign — but this time on behalf of a Republican candidate, John McCain. Lieberman stumped with McCain before Florida's GOP primary and during the general election.

He was also back in 2010, appearing at the Palm Beach home of Simon and Norma Fireman for a Rabbinical College of America event.

And in October 2016, the potential Trump appointee campaigned for Democrat Hillary Clinton at Century Village of Boca Raton as part of a South Florida tour aimed at Jewish voters.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Joe Lieberman death from fall, senator's ties to Palm Beach County