The shocking point about this story is where it originated, the SF Chronicle???
My theory is that Daschle might have ridden through this storm if only he hadn't used that unbelievable line about thinking the car and driver were "a gift from a good friend" -- media mogul Leo Hindery. Nobody buys that line. If I had a good friend who gave me a car and driver, I'd be divorced.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=42&entry_id=35348