Thune's Fast Start

http://www.nationalreview.com/beltway/beltwaybuzz.asp

PAC Man
02/24 08:37 AM 
John Thune is proving himself a rare first-year
senator in many regards. Along with the heightened
level of attention he is receiving in GOP circles for
defeating former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle,
Thune has started his own PAC, Heartland Values. Not
wasting any time, Thune has already signaled at least
one Republican senator up for re-election that he
plans to help with his PAC’s funds, Jim Talent.

On the left, media darling Barack Obama has also
started his own pack. This won’t come as any great
shock to BB readers, but consider the gap in coverage
between these two men in their respective victories.
Obama understandably deserves coverage for his victory
as an African-American into the Senate. But he did so
beating Alan Keyes. Regardless of his ethnic
biography, the media was more focused on the fact that
he was essentially the only positive story for
Democrats out of last year’s election and they weren’t
going to let his success go uncovered – again, and
again, and again.

On the other hand, Senator Thune captured a historic
victory over Daschle. Regardless of one’s political
views, it’s a great story. Nonetheless, he has not
received the level of coverage he deserves. Imagine if
his victory had played out under the exact same
circumstances, but he had a (D) after his name. In the
meantime, I’m sure Thune and his supporters can
reconcile themselves with winning – both in their
great 2004 victory and in helping good candidates like
Jim Talent in the future.

Thanks to an alert reader's e-mail.