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.
Run Tom Run!
'08 Democratic candidates make for great standup comedy!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Bring him on...
I listen to a little last night on cspan
John Howard didn't just give the usual Thank you speech .. He talked about how he was Proud to call us in America a friend
It was an outstanding speech
Hey, if Zell Miller runs for president, that would be the only way I'd vote for a democrat...I'd pay money to see him challenge Tom to a duel like he did Chris Mathews after the Republican convention.
BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
There's our laugh of the night!
Now I am doubled over laughing.
OMG!
Zell Miller is a great American.
He'll never be Hil's running mate.
He could be in any D's Cabinent, Secretary of the Tresury or something, but other then that, forget it.
Send him a used muffler!
Tom Dasshole--the great 'Ican hope for '08.
I'll be happy to make some water for him to test. Meanwhile, he should start here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/collections/1988/images/df1988-1687.gif
Have the Dems a never-ending supply of DUDS - all wanting to be President???!!!
So far, unfortunately we do too.
"Tom Daschle to Test Waters for 2008 Run"
I think he meant swim.
Thank you Lord.
Please let little Tommy Run with the Goron, Kerry, Clintoon Two, Finegold, Biden and other losers?
With any luck this could end up like one of those reality TV show all-star specials: Daschel, Gephart, Gore, Kerry...
Daschle? running for Prez? LOLOLOLOL...oh yes...do it! What a maroon!
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