Sen. Joseph Lieberman's speech at the Palm Beach Synagogue was billed as an examination of the threat Iran poses to Israel and the United States, but three-quarters of his 40-minute talk Wednesday focused on the senator's support of Republican colleague John McCain as the most suitable choice for President.

Lieberman's synagogue appearance ended a two-day swing through Florida on McCain's behalf, with Lieberman heading to a post-event reception at a private island residence afterwards.

"As a religious institution, we do not endorse any candidates," Rabbi Moshe Scheiner, leader of the synagogue, said in remarks before the senator's talk. "We're an independent, very much like Senator Joseph Lieberman."

Scheiner said Lieberman, I-Conn., who famously ran for re-election as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, belongs to the "party of truth."

"We need leaders today to protect the children and grandchildren of tomorrow," Scheiner said. "Joseph Lieberman is our brother."

"In light of the upcoming election, we felt it was important to have Senator Lieberman here, to educate us about the issues facing all Americans," Scheiner said, noting that Lieberman had spoken at the synagogue on several occasions over the past few years.

"There is no one more important to the American Jewish community than Joe Lieberman," said Michael Gelfand, president of the synagogue and the senator's former Yale classmate.

Gelfand introduced Lieberman to the crowd of 300 who stood and applauded as Lieberman took the podium.

"Iran poses the most serious challenge to our security," Lieberman said, post McCain stumping. "Iran is in the deadly grip of a fanaticist, extremist, expansionist regime."

He went on to note that the United States' initial reaction to and comprehension of Iran's leadership was comparable to that of Hitler in the 1930s, who was perceived as a maniac not capable of garnering power in Germany, or of Osama bin Laden, who in the '90s publicly announced his goals, which resulted in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"Ahmadinejad (the Iranian president) leads masses in chanting 'death to America,'?" Lieberman said, as an indication that Americans should be aware of Iran's potential for affecting the world situation.

Iran is an expansionist power, wealthy with oil money, Lieberman said.

"All you have to do is look at the region. They are the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism," he said. "In Lebanon, Hezbollah is a proxy, an agent of Iran. Hamas are proxies of Iran.

"In Afghanistan, the Taliban are receiving training in Iran."

"And most infuriating, the Revolutionary Guard are training and equipping Iraqi extremists, responsible for the murder of hundreds of Americans soldiers in Iraq.

"We can't continue to let that happen," Lieberman said. "They are thumbing their nose at the civilized world."

Lieberman went on to suggest how to respond to the Iranian threat, calling for stronger economic sanctions and support for moderate Iranians in the hope they might overthrow the government.

He also thinks the United States and its allies should make it known that they are prepared to use power to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

"We have to face them with confidence and strength," he said.

Lieberman's remarks mainly found a receptive audience.

"I agree with what he said, that Iran will never be our friends and that we don't take the threat seriously enough, and I was impressed with his remarks overall," said Joan Vogel of West Palm Beach who came expecting to hear Lieberman discuss Barack Obama vs. McCain.

"I was disappointed he didn't talk much about Barack," she said. "Maybe he's trying to be careful about what he says."

Cynthia Van Buren of Palm Beach wanted to hear less about politics.

"There was too much politicking," Van Buren said as she left the synagogue. "I was hoping for more issues and less about McCain, but what he said about Iran I'm in total agreement with."

The Lieberman File

* Feb. 24, 1942: Born Stamford, Conn.

* 1964: Bachelor?s degree, Yale College

* 1967: Law degree, Yale Law School

* 1970: Elected to Connecticut State Senate, serving for 10 years

* 1983-88: Connecticut attorney general

* 1988: Elected to U.S. Senate by a margin of just 10,000 votes

* 1994: Re-elected by a 67 percent margin, beating his opponent by more than 350,000 votes

* 2000: Re-elected while running simultaneously for Senate and vice president with Al Gore

* 2006: Lost the Democratic Senate primary to Edward Lamont Jr. but held onto his seat by running as an independent, winning the race by more than 100,000 votes

* Remains committed to caucusing with Senate Democrats, but is identified as an Independent Democrat

* Committees: chairman, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; member, Armed Services; member, Environment/Public Works; member, Small Business