By Brigitte Greenberg
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000; 6:17 p.m. EST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –– Joseph Lieberman postponed the Connecticut victory rally and headed back to Washington instead. He was still a senator, indeed just re-elected to a new six-year term.

Still, aides said Lieberman was holding out hope that he would be the first Jewish vice president, elected as Al Gore's Democratic running mate.

"Senator Lieberman is somebody of great calm and optimism," spokeswoman Kiki McLean said Wednesday. "He is an optimist and he is committed to the Gore-Lieberman agenda and he is committed to seeing this process through."

The process proceeded in Florida, as officials recounted the votes that the first time through showed Republican George W. Bush had won the presidency.

Lieberman sent his youngest daughter, 12-year-old Hana, home to Washington early Wednesday so that she could resume her school routine. He and his wife, Hadassah, planned to join her late Wednesday night. Other family members left earlier in the day.

"Why are we going back tonight? Because he has a child at home," McLean said.

It was unclear whether he would rejoin Vice President Gore in Nashville once Florida's election results were clear.

"Right now, he's going to go home to Washington and he'll obviously be in very close contact, in touch with what's going on," McLean said. "Things are pretty fluid."

Lieberman had been planning to return to his home state of Connecticut late Wednesday for a "victory rally" in Hartford to celebrate, if nothing else, his Senate win. Aides said that rally had been indefinitely postponed because of the uncertainty of the general election.

McLean described the senator as "pleased and appreciative" that he and Gore had won the popular vote, but she declined to give details of the roller coaster of emotions that he and his family experienced throughout election night.

When the decision was made not to concede, he and Gore were backstage at War Memorial Plaza. "He just said, 'All right, let's keep going,'" McLean said of Lieberman.

Lieberman fought hard to put Florida and its 25 electoral votes in the Democrats' column, having campaigned in the state almost every week since August when he was selected to be Gore's running mate. Aides said he had made eight trips to Florida and spent 13 days there.

At Florida Atlantic University, he adapted the lyrics of "New York, New York," belting out, "If we win it here, we'll win it everywhere. It's up to you Flor-id-a!"

He was never so right.

Lieberman, the first Jew to run for national office on a major party ticket, has been especially popular at Florida's predominantly Jewish senior citizen residential communities. He customarily speaks to seniors in their own familiar language, Yiddish. Even his 86-year-old mother, Marcia, has campaigned for him in the Sunshine State.

Lieberman ran simultaneously for a third term to the Senate and easily won by defeating Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano.

If Gore should win Florida – and the presidency – after all, Lieberman would have to give up the seat. Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland, a Republican, would appoint his replacement.