In Response to Poll, Daschle Backers Amass

[Rose Siding]

Is Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) getting panicky in his reelection bid against former representative John Thune? Republicans gleefully note that after a newspaper poll showed Thune in the lead this week, Daschle's long-standing ban on third-party ads abruptly ended, and a chartered planeload of Democratic lawyers, lobbyists and loyalists is scheduled to fly from Washington to Sioux Falls today.

"There's almost a panic around the nation about Daschle being able to cling to his seat," Thune campaign manager Dick Wadhams said.

Not so, Daschle supporters say. For starters, they say, the Zogby poll published in the Rapid City Journal is flawed. It showed Republican Thune leading Daschle, 48.5 percent to 45.5 percent, just within the margin of error. At first, however, the poll had shown an even larger Thune lead, which seemed so improbable that the pollsters adjusted their voter turnout estimates and arrived at the narrower gap.

Democrats scoffed, saying the poll remains suspect. It contradicts other public polls showing Daschle slightly ahead, and it showed House GOP challenger Larry Diedrich leading Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D). Even some Republicans find that hard to believe........

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10519-2004Oct29.html

[UCLA Dem]

1. the repukes have been so awful.

no one has ever gone after a leader in congress like they have. absolutely disgusting.

[Tamyrlin79]

4. Honestly... I don't care if he's a leader in congress.

Just because they are "leader" should not give them some special privilege or exemption...Rather, I should think that would make them have to endure more scrutiny to make sure he uses his leadership wisely. However, there is playing by the rules and then there is beyond the pale, and that applies to anybody, whether congressional leader or freshman. That is the real issue.

[WCGreen]

7. They went after Foley with a vengenace in the erly 90's....

nt

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Is Daschle really going to loose?

I hope not! We need his seat!

[still_one]

3. we need his seat but there is an extremely important lesson

For the last 4 years Dashle caved in to the facist republicans when he should have stood up time and again for what is right

[sandnsea]

8. Is that the problem?

I don't live in South Dakota and haven't followed this election. The people there are voting for Thune because Daschle isn't liberal enough???

[aquart]

13. No.

[sandnsea]

14. Thank you

Everything is very clear now. :)

(just a joke)

[Democat]

16. You can be liberal and strong, Daschle seems weak

The guy has let Bush walk all over us and himself. He has backed down too many times.

You don't have to be weak to be liberal. If he stood up for himself and the voters in his party more, maybe people would have a little more respect for him and for Democrats.

If he wins in a very close race, are we going to see our Senate leader become even more pathetic to try to please the conservative voters in his state?

Daschle needs to win this race, but after he does, there needs to be some serious discussion about Senate leadership.

[bushwakker]

24. he put his own interests above the party's interest

daschle has always had one eye on re-election in a gop state.

[Sinnerman]

23. I agree... We can't afford to lose any....

He's the Senate Minority Leader...... His plan worked perfectly this year against bush

[barb162]

5. I hope Daschle does not lose. We need every Democrat

[Carolab]

6. Yeah but you've gotta admit

Daschle is rather marginally defined as one.

[barb162]

9. oh yeah, but he was laboring under a GOP Senate; he

couldn't do a damn thing. The GOP gang votes like the Borg. Every so often Daschle would issue a statement and sound like one of the few voices of reason in the government. The mistake he made and the rest make is that you can't compromise or play the game with this bunch of Republicans. They have the votes and will do as they damn please, no give and take. It's the dirtiest GOP gang I have ever seen. If anything Daschle is too nice for his own good. He is playing the game as it was played 20 years ago but the rules have changed; total scum is in control.

[DeadHead67]

11. Yeah barb, I agree. . . . .

. . .we can no longer treat this thing like some kind of goddam tea party. IT'S WAR!!! And guerilla war at that!!!

[barb162]

26. you are right, it is war. There is no civilized behavior with the GOP

leadership or troops.

[bleowheels]

22. I agree.

I don't know if you have met the man but Tom Daschle is a very personable, open and gentle man in person. (I believe this is how he became Majority Leader). I also think that this is how he became minority leader. I think that people take advantage of his honestly/familiarity. Tom, I really want you to pull this race out! - a south dakotan who has always and always will vote for you!!!!

[barb162]

25. no, never met him as I am in IL and worrying about his race in

your state. In IL we will have 2 dem senators come 11/2 (Dick Durbin and Barak Obama). I like Daschle although I think he is too nice for his own good. Sociopaths like the current Senate GOP leadership take total advantage of nice people like Daschle. I would like to force all Democrats in political office to take a course in abnormal psychology with a concentration in antisocial disorders (sociopaths), so that they can understand and guard against the GOP behavior. When you go along with the GOP votes, the GOP gives nothing in return. There is no compromise or tit for tat. They are users and liars.

[DeadHead67]

10. You must remember who he represents. . . .

. . .even the Democrats are very conservative. He IS nonetheless a DEMOCRAT, marginal or otherwise, and can usually be counted on to vote with US. Not to mention(I saw the Daschle/Thune debates)THUNE IS A RAGING FLAMING ASSHOLE!!!!

[Cyrix]

12. Don't care

Have you heard his opponent? A true right wing nut job. Someone we do NOT need in office.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

15. The ads...

... Thune has been running show his young teenage daughters acting all cutesy poo (rolling eyes, dropping and wagging jaws). This is the second one he has used his two daughters in. I find them pathetic..... Thune just stands there outside the SUV making moonshines as his daughters yap about how great he is.

And while a House representative, his family moved back from DC to South Dakota because "his daughters and wife" didn't like the DC lifestyle, so who are they trying to kid?

[bleowheels]

17. Some of you people really crack me up. You talk as if Tom Daschle..

is a conservative in Democrats clothing. He has stood up to Bush many times. He has blocked all of Bush's ultra conservative judicial appointees. And he's been very vocal against the Patriot Act and he has been crucified here for supporting a woman's right to choose, including partial birth abortion. Now Tom Daschle may not be Liberal enough for many of you but he got where he is because he is an honest and genuinely warm person. (yeah, make fun of me for that last sentence. But it's true) I agree that maybe a Democrat from a conservative state just should not be a leader for the Democrats but Tom Daschle is a man who has spent the last quarter century fighting for the right people and now he is in the fight for his life. His opponent and the Republican party will stop at nothing to beat Tom Daschle. Daschle took a clean oath pledge for this race and asked all outside parties to abstain from running ads on his behalf for this race. John Thune DID NOT ask that and STILL WILL NOT and Daschle is gettin killed by all of the third party ads. This state has a total population of 700,000 but this senate race is the most expensive in the entire country. http://www.ksoo.com/NewsDetail13.cfm?Id=15,3551 . John Thune is the most smug and condescending individual that I have ever seen and if you people think that Daschle loosing his seat in the Senate to Thune is worth it, then I have nothing but contempt for you. I have seen more "F--- Daschle" posts here in the past couple of weeks and I just don't get it. He's not Liberal enough for the national Democrats and he's not conservative enough for the Republican majority of South Dakota. I will guarentee you this, If John Thune is elected, it will be at least 20 years before he is out of the Senate.

[Ima]

19. bleowheels good post

I'm with you 100% on this.

[bleowheels]

21. Thanks!

I know I should'nt let it get to me. But I really think Tom is fighting the good fight and it disheartens me when people attack him. i certainly believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion I just want them to be careful to what they wish for.

[MADem]

31. I agree with you as well

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT. It is stupid for us to expect lockstep behavior, and it is SELF DEFEATING when we punish legislators for not being "sufficiently Democratic" enough to suit US. He has to dance with the ones what brung him, and those are the voters in his constituency. We serve NO PURPOSE, except that of the GOP, when we attack our own. And truth is, most of us do not LIVE in Tom's state. We don't own farms, we don't share their concerns and goals. They have an absolute RIGHT to their self-interest, we ALL do.

Tom will vote with the party when it will make a difference. The politics of compromise are a necessary component of government of, by and for the people.

The voters will be in for a very rude surprise if they reject Tom and elect Thune, especially in the context of a Kerry presidency. Who would you rather have as your senator, a LEADER with some sway in the White House, or some junior clown on a lameass Agriculture subcommittee? You gotta go with the POWER, otherwise your voice will not be heard.

[On the Road]

27. The Perception of Daschle

is formed more from his demeanor than from actions. He is facing a solid Republican majority that votes in lockstep.

[0007]

36. My only complaint against Daschle is that he wasn't vocal enough

other than that your 100% right and we can't afford to loose him.

[ibegurpard]

18. Despite the perceptions of Dashchle's ineffectiveness as Democratic leader

I don't think that we want him losing his seat. Where would we make up that loss? I don't see a whole lot of competitive senate seats left in the near future.

[VIHMH5L50P]

20. I still prefer Daschle over Thune any day...

thats all

[Cocoa]

28. this article is awful

it accepts the GOP frame, that Daschle's actions are based in "desperation."

:puke:

[Ima]

34. Go Daschle!

"desperation

n 1: a state in which everything seems wrong and will turn out badly."



Things are VERY wrong, that the pugs would go so all out to defeat him. That tells me he is doing a good job.

The phreaking pugs have done such a hatchet job on him, that even some Dem's are buying it.


Lets see, who else have the pugs did that too? Cleavland, McKinney and , may he rest in peace, Paul Wellstone.

[Catchawave]

29. Revenge of the Prairie Dogs, I tell ya !

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20952-2004Oct9.html

[Sinnerman]

30. Rasmussen Breaking.... Thun up a couple Points

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/SD%20Senate.htm

Daschle was keep his seat

[MADem]

32. I am less than impressed

...with the historical accuracy of that outfit. I'll bet the Faux news polls say the same thing. We'll just have to wait and see.

[CityDem]

33. We need Daschle in the Senate

We don't need him as the leader of the dems in the senate. We need someone from a safe state that can be more agressive in leading the caucus. Someone like Boxer or Durbin come to mind.

[Chicago Democrat]

35. Durbin! Durbin!

My hero... i hope Dash-el wimpo does win, of course.. totally agree with the 'safe state' line of thinking