Posted on 10/23/2006 2:53:40 PM PDT by finnman69
WASHINGTON - Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle predicted on Monday that Democrats will pick up seven U.S. Senate seats this year and said his party needs to "restore the confidence that has been lost about Congress."
Daschle, who was Senate Democratic Leader when he lost to Republican John Thune in 2004, also predicted his party would pick up around 25 seats in the U.S. House.
"It looks awfully good," Daschle said on C-SPAN's Washington Journal.
Daschle said he hopes South Dakota voters will defeat a state ballot measure that would ban most abortions.
"I think it is too extreme," he said of a measure that will be on South Dakota's Nov. 7 ballot.
It would ban nearly all abortions except when necessary to save a woman's life. One provision would allow a victim of rape or incest to get emergency contraceptives before a pregnancy could be detected through conventional medical testing.
He also demurred on a possible run for president.
"I haven't made any decisions, any announcements," he said. "I think there's a big field out there ... and it's going to be exciting to see what's going to happen."
Daschle visited the politically pivotal states of New Hampshire and Iowa earlier this year to discuss a possible run with voters there.
In the interview Monday, Daschle downplayed the prospects of some potential Democratic opponents.
On Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who said Sunday he is considering seeking the nomination, Daschle said it's "appropriate" he's thinking about a run.
"I think because of the tremendous amount of enthusiasm and support that Sen. Obama has around the country, you'd be foolish not to give it some very careful thought ... And I hope he does make a very thoughtful evaluation of whether a race at this point makes sense or not."
He said New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is not a lock for the nomination.
"I think even Sen. Clinton would tell you that she is not, she is not a candidate yet, and it's hard to say," Daschle said. "I don't think anyone has a lock on it."
Tom who?
I guess he's been keeping his face in the bong since he lost his Senate seat.
So, tell me Tom, how's your wife's lobbyist job going now that you aren't in the senate any more?
ping
boy that must be some good Loco weed tommy is smoking
It's getting so hard to tell anymore.
Allow me to be the first to say it - Tommy will be deeply saddened on the evening of November 7th.
Tom is still reaching up to touch bottom!
WAYR, Puffy D?
The only candidate who'd have a chance of unseating Hillary is Guiliani, and he didn't want to do it.
So we mounted a token challenge. Kinda like the token challenge mounted by Democrats to take the senate seat in Texas.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Little Tommy was also heard to say: "I'm soooooooo wasted!!"
Hillary is old news. The new anointed marxist saviour for 2008 is Barack Obama.
Do you have a picture of mr. saddened on a steppie stool so that he looks taller? LOL!
An expert speaks.
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