Thune spells out differences with Daschle in talk show (RIGHTalk's "Jeff Gannon's Washington")

Agrus-Leader (Sioux Falls, SD) ^ | 2/8/2004 | David Kranz

[Jeff Gannon]

Former Rep. John Thune took his case against Sen. Tom Daschle to a Washington, D.C., talk show last week.

During his interview on "Jeff Gannon's Washington," Thune labeled Daschle as an obstructionist and antagonist to President Bush, one who can't throw stones about lobbying, and unable to get things done for the state as a member of the minority party.

Thune talked about the White House role in his decision to run for Senate again, saying,"clearly the White House was encouraging." But he added, "They sort of let me make my own decision on my own time."

Controversy over lobbying also entered the discussion. Thune said he would continue lobbying for interests that meant jobs in the state but said he didn't think Daschle would bring it up: "You know, Senator Daschle has a lot of lobbying interests of his own that I think he probably doesn't want to talk about."

Asked if he meant Daschle's wife, Linda, Thune said. "Family, family interests, correct."

Thune said it is becoming increasingly difficult for Daschle to get things done while being the "primary obstacle to the president's agenda, the chief antagonist, and be consistently day-in and day-out bashing the president and the leadership in the United States Senate and then expect to be able to get things done for your state."

Steve Hildebrand, Daschle's campaign manager, took issue with the suggestion, saying there is a long list of Daschle's accomplishments and Thune's failures while in the House that refute Thune's charges.

"We'd be happy to list hundreds of things Daschle has gotten done while in the minority including Lewis & Clark funding, indemnification of Homestake, which failed while John Thune was in the House, country-of-origin labeling which passed without Thune's help in the House and which the Bush administration refuses to implement, and TRICARE for National Guard members, and so on," he said.

As for Thune's statement about lobbying in Daschle's family, Hildebrand said, "It is clear that John Thune plans not just to attack Tom, but Tom's family."

[Dutch Boy]

If Daschle loses I hope I don't break anything doing my "Happy Dance." It's not going to be pretty but it'll be from the heart.