South Dakota Politics

What it means to have "gone Washington"

DVT obtained the picture above of the "loggia" of Senator Daschle's multi-million dollar home, which is in one of Washington's "most coveted" neighborhoods. No wonder Daschle looks so giddy when he tells people "I'm a DC resident."

Weekly Standard piece on Catholic voters

The Weekly Standard's Joseph Bottum has written a piece for the Weekly Standard headlined "The Myth of the Catholic Voter." Excerpt:

A surprisingly consistent history of Democratic politicians over the last three decades has been their gradual trading of pro-life positions in exchange for national prominence. Think of Al Gore and Richard Gephardt and Jesse Jackson and a parade of others, culminating in the hapless Dennis Kucinich, whose first act even as a protest presidential candidate with no real chance in the Democratic primaries last year was to renounce his previously staunch antiabortion position. In 1978, Tom Daschle had the nuns who taught him in grade school write a letter to voters in South Dakota swearing he would always fight against abortion. By 2002, he was penning fundraising letters for NARAL and giving fundraising talks for EMILY's List.

Thune in the lead: 49% to 45%

DVT reports the results of the latest McLaughlin poll. It shows Thune with 49% and Daschle with 45%.

Quote of the Day

"As one of the two leaders of the US Senate, I have the opportunity to sit at one of the most powerful desks in the country, if not the world. And I believe the sun will continue to rise over our state as long as I continue to sit at that desk." - Senator Tom Daschle, taking credit for the sunrise, according to The Independent.

"Daschle Documents" updated

The Ave Maria List's website, www.daschledocuments.com, is now providing a link to e-mail Senator Daschle's top campaign officials, so that readers can urge Daschle to release the entire video of Daschle's fundraising speech to Emily's List, a PAC that promotes only pro-choice female Democratic candidates.

"The reason I am here today as the Senate Majority Leader can be said in two words: Emily's List." - Senator Tom Daschle, speaking to an Emily's List audience.

Emily's List is so extreme it has even been accused of "fanaticism" by former Clinton adviser Paul Begala, according to a report in the liberal American Prospect headlined "Emily's List Hissed."

Daschle: "I'm a DC resident"

Power Line weighs in on John Thune's latest ad:

John Thune's new ad combines a powerful attack on Daschle's longstanding hypocrisy--pretending to be a conservative in South Dakota, while advancing a left-wing agenda in Washington--with the most recent revelations about Daschle's ineligibility for the Senate seat he holds. You can view the ad here. It's titled "In His Own Words," and, like many of the most effective political ads, it consists of Daschle condemning himself.

Reuters: If Dems lose seats, Daschle "could be challenged"

Reuters has an interesting article today headlined "Two Top Lawmakers Face Pivotal Election Day." Excerpt:

Daschle faces even more "if's."

If he wins re-election, he seems certain to keep his leadership spot -- provided Democrats lose no more than a few seats. If Democrats pull off an upset and capture the Senate, he would certainly rise from minority to majority leader.

"But if we lose six or more seats, which is not expected, Daschle could be challenged," a Democratic aide said. "Some would think it's time for a change."

South Dakotans need to know that if the sole reason they're voting for Daschle is because of his leadership status, it's not a lead-pipe cinch he would retain his leadership status even in the event he is reelected.

Dakota showdown

The New York Daily News has a profile of the South Dakota Senate race headlined "A Dakota showdown." Excerpt:

Former Rep. John Thune, 43, the GOP challenger, believes South Dakota's prairie populists have a pattern of tossing out their senators after a while and constantly reminds voters Daschle has been in Washington for 26 years.

"It's time," Thune's ads trumpet, arguing Daschle has forgotten his small-state roots and is the "chief obstructionist" to a President still highly popular in the Mount Rushmore State.