By Catharine Richert, CQ Staff

Anyone who thought Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman might lay low after infuriating Democrats with his Republican convention speech thought wrong.

Lieberman, I-Conn., was on the Senate floor Wednesday, pushing a measure that is guaranteed to annoy Democrats and cheer his chosen presidential candidate, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Lieberman and fellow McCain insider Lindsey Graham , R-S.C., offered an amendment to the mammoth defense programs bill (S 3001) that would commemorate the success of the troop surge in Iraq.

McCain was an original supporter of the surge.

Most Democrats were not.

Lieberman urged them to think again.

The success of the surge is not “a matter of opinion,” he said. “It’s a matter of fact.”

Lieberman has continued to caucus with the Democrats, and agrees with them on most thing things except the war.

As rumors fly about Lieberman’s future as chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and his role in helping Democrats keep the majority, Graham praised his ally.

“He’s one senator who stood up during a time when America needed someone to speak out,” Graham said.

Connecticut’s other senator, Democrat Christopher J. Dodd did what he could to tamp down speculation about Lieberman’s future as a majority party caucus member and gavel wielder.

“You’re way ahead of yourself,” the Democrat told a reporter. “He’s a great Democrat and a great friend.”