[churchillbuff]

I suspect that Gibbons had a particular name on his mind when he made this decision: John Thune!

Please explain. (Do you mean that Thune got beat last time? But isn't he in a strong position to win next time?)

[Theodore R.]

I mean that Thune gave up a safe House seat for the uncertainties of tacking a popular Democrat senator. He lost by less than 500 votes, wasn't it? He really wanted to run for SD governor but ran for the Senate at the president's request. The SD House seat went to William Janklow, who in the wake of a traffic tragedy that resulted in a death is expected to be forced out of the position soon or certainly defeated if he runs again in 2004.