Posted on 05/17/2006 6:35:30 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle will gauge potential support for a 2008 presidential bid with stops in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan next month.
Daschle, the three-term South Dakota senator who lost a re-election bid in 2004, said Wednesday that the trip is a logical progression as he weighs a White House run.
"It's just taking the next step to a more thoughtful consideration of a presidential campaign," Daschle said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Iowa and New Hampshire are the traditional early voting states and numerous potential candidates have visited there in recent months. Michigan could be one of two states shoehorned in between Iowa and New Hampshire if the Democratic Party decides to change its primary calendar.
Daschle said he will be traveling to states to "sound out presidential themes, talk to voters and get a sense of what kind of a reception I might be getting." He also will be campaigning for local candidates.
Republican John Thune defeated Daschle, then the Senate Minority leader, two years ago. Since that loss, Daschle, a fellow at the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, started a political action committee to support Democratic candidates and has criticized President Bush on the Iraq war and other issues.
Daschle said he believes New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the current Democratic front-runner.
"She's in a class by herself," he said. "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 a complete turnabout the next."
Daschle, 58, said he would decide by the end of this year, maybe sooner, if he will run for president.
The "PICK ME, Hillary!" Vice Presidential auditions have officially begun. Tiny Tom does have the inside track because he is non threatening and small enough to fit in her thighness's lap.
I can save little Tommy a few bucks and some pointless travelling...
I'll be completely supportive of Tom's run for the WH.
If you're a failure in the Senate, what else can you do?
Please don't run, Daschele! Please! Purty Please! (caution: reverse psychology being tested here .)
The waters of the sewer are already more pee than anything else.
PUFF!!!!
LOLOL!! That's too funny! Thanks for the ping! I just can't get excited about such a little squirt being my president. :o)
What are you talking about? he might be able to bring home SD's crucial 3 electoral votes...
I dunno. SD may be a little too conservative for Dashole but the country as a whole isn't. His odds improve if he successfully fights his way to get the Dem nomination. (Shudder!)
Perhaps we can all pitch in to build him a small armada.
SD is not even a remotely "swing" state in Presidential elections. Not even McGovern carried the state he won 3 Senate contests in. Edwards didn't help carry NC in '04, and Gore didn't carry my state of TN in '00 (and barely helped in '92 or '96 where Perot deprived the Bush I and Dole the majority).
Unless you were making a joke, in which case I smack my head with a "D'oh !" :-P
It was a joke. Like the thought of Tom Daschle running for POTUS.
Little Tommy is testing the waters?
He's better wear an inflatable tube or he'll be submerged......LOL
Have you been following John Howard's trip to the US? Dubya laid it on a treat in DC!
The majority of Aussies regard the US as our best friend and Americans are always made welcome when visiting.
Actually when you said "crucial 3 electoral votes" I was reminded how close some of the recent elections have been...
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