Joe Lieberman, first Jewish vice-presidential nominee of a major party, dies at 82

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), who became the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate of a major party when Al Gore selected him as his running mate in the 2000 election, has died at age 82.

His family said he died Wednesday in New York City surrounded by family, including his wife Hadassah, after suffering complications from a fall.

His funeral will be held at the Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, Conn., his hometown.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who took over Lieberman’s seat after he retired from the Senate, expressed shock over his sudden death.

“In an era of political carbon copies, Joe Lieberman was a singularity. One of one. He fought and won for what he believed was right and for the state he adored. My thoughts are with Hadassah and the entire family,” he said.

Lieberman was one of the most conservative members of the Senate Democratic caucus and burst into the national spotlight in 1998 by scolding then-President Clinton on the Senate floor over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, calling his conduct “disgraceful” and disappointing.

Lieberman’s independent streak factored into Gore’s decision to select him as a running mate, which enabled the then-vice president to put some distance between himself and the scandals of the Clinton administration.

The Connecticut senator was known as a champion of the defense industry, which has a heavy presence in his home state, and extolled muscular national security policy.

His strong support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq later derailed his own bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and eventually led to a major falling out with liberals in his party.

He lost the 2006 Senate Democratic primary to Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont but won reelection to a fourth term by running as an “Independent Democrat.”

He campaigned for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) against Barack Obama in the 2008 election.  McCain even strongly considered picking Lieberman as his running mate before choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin instead.

DEVELOPING.