South Dakota Senate race on "Meet the Press"

Here's a portion of the transcript of the debate between Senator Corzine and Senator Allen regarding South Dakota's Senate race on yesterday's "Meet the Press":

MR. RUSSERT: Let's look at South Dakota: the Democratic leader in the Senate, Tom Daschle, against former Congressman John Thune. Tom Daschle, leader of the Democrats, in a very close race, Senator Corzine.

SEN. CORZINE: He's got a 59 percent approval rating. He's 7 or 8 points ahead of where Tim Johnson was against the same candidate at the same time in the 2002 election. Tom Daschle is known by everybody in South Dakota as somebody who cares about their interests and fights for them. In fact, often I think some of the actions or the votes and the leadership that he shows on farm issues, which are certainly South Dakota's interests, are not in New Jersey's interests. I think this is a man who represents the people of South Dakota. He has very effectively, and I think that South Dakota appreciates having a national voice, a leadership voice, in the United States Senate.

MR. RUSSERT: Senator Allen, there used to be some collegiality; when there was a leader of the other party running for re-election, there was not a direct attack against him. This time Senator Bill Frist, the Republican leader, went to South Dakota to campaign against Tom Daschle. The Bush White House has invested everything to topple Tom Daschle. Why?

SEN. ALLEN: Because he's the chief obstructionist on so many issues, whether it's tax cuts, whether it's energy policy, whether it is fair consideration of judges. The people of South Dakota, yeah, they do know Tom Daschle. And he has spent $9 million--$9 million--since January of last year and can't break 50 percent. It's about 48-45 right now. And for $9 million, for a state like Virginia, that would be like $90 million being spent and can't break 50. John Thune is a positive, constructive leader who will represent South Dakota values. Tim Johnson's not the same as Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle has to carry the water for Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy and all of these views that are so contrary to the values of the people of South Dakota. The fact that Bill Frist went into South Dakota shows that a leader is vulnerable. When in history has a leader of any party ever been so vulnerable? You didn't see folks going in against Bob Dole because no one's going to beat Bob Dole.

MR. RUSSERT: And Tom Daschle and John Thune will debate right here on MEET THE PRESS on September 19.

Can you believe that there won't be another debate between Daschle and Thune until nearly a month from now? The Rapid City Journal noted yesterday that, to date, there have been no debates scheduled to be held West River. That's appalling. John Thune has accepted every debate offer from every legitimate group in South Dakota. At the close of the debate at Dakotafest in Mitchell last week, Senator Daschle said that debates are "great" and was "democracy in action." Well, let's have more democracy in action!