Daschle Asks Native American Not to Run Against Him

Talon News ^ | 4/2/2004 | Jeff Gannon

[ConservativeMajority]

(Talon News) -- The Senate race in South Dakota got more complicated Monday with the entry of a third party candidate. Originally, Tim Giago, a member of the Lakota tribe, planned to challenge Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) for the Democratic nomination, but instead has decided to run as an independent in the November election.

Giago's candidacy threatens Daschle's already uncertain reelection bid.

Giago, the publisher of the Lakota Journal, told Talon News that Daschle phoned him following his announcement and asked, "Do you want to be the Ralph Nader of this race?"

Daschle was suggesting that Giago would siphon off enough traditionally Democratic votes to allow Republican challenger John Thune to win.

Daschle's call to Giago doesn't square with a statement Daschle deputy campaign manager Dan Pfeiffer made to Roll Call about the switch.

"When Mr. Giago announced he was going to run in the primary, Senator Daschle said he thought it was a good thing for the state because it would highlight issues important to Native Americans," Pfeiffer told Roll Call. "He still believes that."

A call to Pfeiffer for clarification was not returned.

Dick Wadhams, Thune's campaign manager, was quoted in the local Sioux Falls newspaper saying the significance of Giago's decision "can't be overstated."

"This is clearly bad news for Tom Daschle," Wadhams said. "Anytime you have an election that appears to be as close as this one -- any development like this is huge."

Giago said he was unconcerned with the effect he will have on the Democratic and Republican candidates, as he sees little difference between them, particularly on issues important to Native Americans. Beside that, Giago thinks he has a real chance of winning. He indicated that he has received quite a bit of interest from outside the Native American community.

Giago points to retiring Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) as an example of a Native American whose candidacy was ridiculed. Campbell was elected as a Democrat in 1992 and later switched parties despite the pleas of Daschle and won reelection as a Republican in 1998.

Giago, a familiar figure in South Dakota, believes that people have learned to trust him, particularly as a result of his efforts to establish the "Year of Reconciliation" in 1990 that sought to ease racial tensions between Native Americans and Whites. He maintains that education is the key to solving the deep divisions that plague the state.

Giago said that in 25 years, Daschle has done little to help Native Americans free themselves from government dependency. Giago urged the creation of a Marshall plan that would bring jobs and improve the infrastructure on the reservations, where unemployment is as high as 60%.

Giago said he will challenge Daschle and Thune to a three-way debate once he secures his place on the ballot.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[doug from upland]

Run, Giago, run.

[cripplecreek]

There seems to be a pattern emerging with the democrats.

[Support Free Republic]

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg		Freepers/Avg		Monthlies
	South Korea						10.00	1

Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

[madison10]

Sounds like Dakotans need a change. Fresh wind, fresh ideas, someone close to the earth. Vote Giago for Senate!

[ErnBatavia]

I hope if it's close that Thune doesn't wimp out on a recount, like he did last time against Johnson.

[Sloth]

Ethnic minorities are welcome within the DemonRat party, so long as they don't make eye contact and speak only when spoken to.

[CasearianDaoist]

Which is?

[Mike Bates]

Can it be that Daschle is a Democrat who doesn't believe in democracy? I am saddened, not to mention disappointed.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[nate4one]

Hmmm, Native Americans can live on reservations and not follow all the American laws, but they can be a voice in our lawmaking?
Anyone else find this stupid?
Nate

[gieriscm]

Giago thinks he has a real chance of winning. He indicated that he has received quite a bit of interest from outside the Native American community.

Yeah, from Republicans. GO GIAGO GO!!

[The Great RJ]

It gets better --American Indian Movement activist, Russel Means, is campaigning for Daschle's Republican opponent, former Representative John Thune. It looks like the Native American vote, which was probably crucial in the last Senate race in South Dakota is not firmly in the Democrat's camp.

[petercooper]

yeah - it's about time they joined society along with all the other hyphenated-Amercians

[nate4one]

We better watch it, we might be racist for not believing in "special rights."

[madison10]

I've never seen Native American hyphenated. They don't have to.

Along those same lines: Apparently the Native Americans will "leave the Reservation" before many African-Americans "leave the plantation" as relating to the Democrat Party.

[pointsal]

Little Tommy D. seems to have stinky stuff.
He needs to relocate his campaign headquarters to the sewer plant.

[inquest]

Sounds good to me. I've already said that the whole problem with today's government is, too many chiefs and not enough Native Americans :-/

[skimbell]

Maybe Daschel ought to consider leaving the race so he doesn't goof up Giago's run at the Senate.
What is with the Dimocrats whinning to everybody(ie. Nader and Giago) that they are messing up thier chances to be elected? I figure that the dims are doing fine messing themselves up.

[Dr Snide]

But the Dems depend on dead native americans voting for them. They can't win without the dead native american vote.

[JaguarXKE]

Where can I make a donation to his campaign?