Daschle & the Pro-Israel PACs

Washington Report:

Pro-Israel political action committees (PACs) added to their loss column in a big way when Tom Daschle (D-SD), beneficiary of a record $129,375 in pro-Israel contributions for a single campaign, became the first sitting Senate minority leader to be defeated in 52 years. His career total of $592,510 enabled Daschle to bump Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), with $520,450, out of second place behind Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin (who has received a whopping $657,887!) in the pantheon of panderers to Israel. Of course, since the careers of Harkin and Levin presumably are not over—neither was up for re-election in 2004—Daschle’s second place standing may not survive the next Senate contest.

According to former South Dakota Sen. James Abourezk, “AIPAC didn’t play much of a public role in the election out here.” In fact, in areas of the country where Israel is not a major constituent concern, the Jewish state seldom is an issue for debate—but the money is spent, and the candidate knows to whom he is indebted. In the case of Daschle, who already was vulnerable for having purchased a $1.9 million mansion in the nation’s capital—where his wife earns $1.5 million a year as a lobbyist—and declaring it his official residence, the appearance of even more distant loyalties was to be avoided at all costs.