Arizona Senator John McCain drew a cheering crowd of more than 2,000 to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield yesterday for a midday pep rally.  With “Super Tuesday” bearing down on him, the Republican frontrunner seemed in good spirits - rolling into the gymnasium with a heavy posse: 4th District Congressman Christopher Shays, former Reps. Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons, South Carolina U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, McCain’s mother Roberta, his wife Cindy, his daughter Megan, Lt. Governor Mike Fedele, State Senator Tony Guglielmo, and of course, Connecticut Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman.

It’s an argument to be had, of course, but Senator Lieberman drew huge cheers during his few minutes with the microphone - reminding many in the crowd of just how talented a politician Senator Lieberman is with a rousing introduction of McCain.  He was, as many have noted, welcomed and celebrated.  Senator Lieberman, back from the political precipice of just a year ago, stood proudly in his home state for Senator McCain.

Though withering rhetorical fire has come down on McCain in recent days from “movement conservatives” like Rush Limbaugh and Nutmegger Ann Coulter, he seemed at ease as he strolled confidently across the stage in Fairfield - well knowing the Republican masses are siding with him for the post-Bush era.  He sounded a more conservative tone than he has in past Connecticut visits - on judges, on pork barrel spending, and on the Global War on Terror.  He told the same jokes he always tells and he prefaced all of his phrases in which he makes key points by addressing the crowd as “my friends”.  He was authentically John McCain.