Buckley stated:

Senator Lieberman offers the Democratic Party the best hope for re-taking the White House.  Obviously I was very pleased at how well he did when he was working with Al Gore in 2000--obviously got more votes than the other guy, and the rest is history as they say. 

I've met every presidential candidate since I was eight years old--so that's quite a few cycles--and he's somebody who I feel very comfortable with, somebody who supports many of the issues that I also am concerned about--his leadership on women's issues, gay and lesbian rights, and the strong economy and the strong defense fit with my constituents as an elected official, and I think fit with the majority of Americans.

Sure it was very difficult.  I've got to know all of the presidential candidates and their senior staff, most of whom are very close personal friends.  So it was indeed a very difficult choice.  I actually read a passage from the Liebermans' book that they did about the 2000 campaign.  There was a point where they were quoting Gore--how he finally decided on Lieberman.  I felt very much that Joe and Hadassah deserved my support.  They have a remarkable life story and did a terrific job in 200.  I've known them for many years.  Matt, their eldest son, worked with me in a campaign up here in 1990, so I'm familiar with the Liebermans for the last thirteen or so years.