If you were in the middle of the closest U.S. election in history, and you were a devoutly religious person, and you prayed daily--would you ask God to tip the election your way?

Senator Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., says he did not pop that question into his prayers. "I would never get so specific in my prayers as to pray for a victory," he says.

In an interview with Beliefnet, Lieberman explores how his faith helped sustain him through the difficult period of the election recount--and offers new reflections on what it was like to be the first Jewish American on a national ticket. "It felt like I was put on a magic carpet," he says.

"Thank God for the Sabbath! Thank God for the Sabbath, that I got one day off to fill my tank again, get some perspective, and get ready to go again Saturday night."

But the experience bore intense pressures as well--as when he was asked to represent Judaism theologically. "Really, I was in over my head," he says about an interview he gave to Don Imus in which he said Judaism condoned interfaith marriage.

"I also felt that because of the visibility as a Jew, that I wanted to behave well," he says. "I wanted to conduct myself honorably so that it would reflect well on both my religion and others who are religiously observant."