[Gunder]

Have you heard whether Thune is going to make a go at Daschle's seat in '04. That's what I'm praying for. As a Minnesotan without a U.S. Senate race in '04, Thune would be my official "adopted" candidate. (Sorry, I know this is O.T.)

[crystalk]

Yes, he is very determined to preserve his viability in that election --against Daschle, or more likely, to fill the open seat vacated in 2004 by Daschle's retirement.

Personally, I wish he were more interested in having the Senate use the FBI indictments to refuse to seat Johnson at least as a permanent member, perhaps making him only a provisional member, and then when the indictments come down, just boot Johnson and have the Senate declare Thune the winner and seat him.

[Theodore R.]

Well, how can Thune run against Daschle when he said in the campaign that SD needed a senator from the Republican party to balance and "work with" Senator Daschle? If Thune couldn't top Johnson, how can he beat the even more entrenched Daschle? Just wondering...

[Gunder]

What -- if any -- cable station is everyone watching?