Daschle

From today's Roll Call:

Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (S.D.) continues to test the 2008 presidential waters.

This weekend he travels to the early caucus and primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire to discuss the possibility of running, according to a news release from his leadership political action committee.

"I'm anxious to be in Iowa and New Hampshire to have these very important discussions about our country's future," Daschle said in the statement. "While we face many difficult problems as a nation, I know we can have a strong future with the right leadership."

Daschle assembled the pieces of a presidential campaign throughout 2002, but he put off his national ambitions to pursue re-election and the possibility of becoming Senate Majority Leader - a post he briefly held when Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) bolted the GOP in 2001, handing Democrats control of the Senate.

He ultimately lost his seat to former Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.) in the most closely-watched and bitter Senate race of the 2004 cycle.

Daschle will lunch with New Hampshire Democrats in Manchester on Thursday and Iowa Democrats in Davenport on Friday, among other events.