Today's edition of The Hotline notes Daschle and the presidency:
'08 Yard Dasch(le)
First, Al Gore. Now, Tom Daschle's making new noise about a WH '08 bid. Like Gore, Daschle opted to forgo '04 (perhaps, these days, to his chagrin). What appeal would he have in '08?
-- He'll get clues next month in IA, NH and MI, where he'll "take the next step to a more thoughtful consideration of a presidential campaign," he told AP. He said he wants to "get a sense of what kind of a reception I might be getting."
-- That "reception" will be decided, in part, by contested '06 primaries Daschle, unlike most would-be '08ers, has waded into. DASHPAC's friends (many of whom, ironically, are also clients of Steve Hildebrand) include VA's Webb (even Mark Warner won't back him yet), MT's Morrison, MN's Klobuchar, RI's Whitehouse, Gibbons in AZ 08, Duckworth in IL 06 and Wilson in OH 06. These nods could mean Daschle, having decided against '08, feels free taking risks. But if they win, Daschle's in chit city.
-- Is that where he wants to be? Some big Dem funders, including Peter Buttenweiser and Ben Barnes, hope so. We'll learn more late this year, Daschle said, "or sooner." (#15)DASCHLE: Hey, Aren't You That Guy From...?
Ex-Senate Maj. Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) will travel to IA, NH, and MI next month as he weighs a WH '08 run. Daschle "said he can offer the country fresh ideas." Daschle: "This is a rare opportunity for the country to consider its future and consider moving in a different direction."
While Daschle "brings key assets" in that he's a good fundraiser and "enjoys the personal side of politics," he also has some "serious liabilities" including that his '04 SEN loss is the "last memory" rank-and-file Dems have of him. IA State Univ. James McCormick: "He's got a real uphill climb after being defeated in that election. Voters obviously are going to look at somebody who can win. Daschle is going to be tarnished with that."
Daschle on '04: "I'd love to replay the South Dakota race this year. But you don't look back. You look forward. As you look forward, there's ample reason for Democrats to feel encouraged and very confident about the reception we're going to get from American voters" (Marrero/Walker, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 5/18).An Avid Fan Of Earl Grey Tea, And Other Things That Set Him Apart
Northern State Univ Jon Schaff "said the immediate question for Daschle is whether to position himself as more liberal or more moderate" than Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Schaff, on Daschle: "He's a very good listener in a small crowd and very generous with his time. This is something Hillary Clinton is not necessarily known for" (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 5/18).
For his part, Daschle said he believes HRC is the frontrunner. Daschle: "She's in a class by herself. In many cases she's like an incumbent. But I've learned after all these years in politics that what looks like a certainty one day could be complete turnabout the next" (Jalonick, AP, 5/17).
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