Free Republic

Ousted Bush foe mulls political comeback Sun Jul 2, 2006 10:41 AM ET By Thomas Ferraro WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate's No. 1 Democrat until his ouster by voters two years ago, Tom Daschle is weighing a campaign comeback he hopes might propel him into the White House in 2008. The first Senate leader in half a century to be voted out of office, the South Dakotan hopes to turn the outspoken opposition to President George W. Bush that was his downfall in his home state into a plus with voters nationwide. "I'm ready for another challenge," Daschle, 58,...

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...

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle says he will make a decision whether to run for the Democratic nomination for president within six months. And right now, he’s not much interested in anything less than the top spot on his party’s ticket. “My time frame is five or six months,” Daschle said in an e-mail response to questions by the Journal that arrived Sunday evening. “And, no, I’m not interested in vice president or the cabinet.” Daschle, a former minority and majority leader in the U.S. Senate, has solid national fund-raising connections and strong ties with Democratic officials. But Daschle said...

Daschle Considering '08 Presidential Bid By JOE KAFKA, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, accusing the GOP of spreading a message of fear, says he is considering a 2008 presidential bid. "I haven't ruled anything out or anything in at this point," Daschle said in an interview Saturday night after a hometown dinner in his honor. "I'm encouraged by the strong support many people have voiced for my candidacy around the country and in South Dakota. I'll make a decision at some point later on this year," he said. Daschle said President Bush and...

Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle is weighing the possibility of running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. "I have received a lot of encouragement," Daschle said in an email today to the Argus Leader. Daschle didn't rule out the possibility of an official announcement in the near future. But for now, he said, he has no plans to run for national office. In his email, Daschle said the primary factors in his decision "would be my family and our mutual decision to consider the rigors of a campaign and reentry into public life." Daschle made similar comments over...

Iowa Reaction To Daschle's Appearance Former Senator Tom Daschle hasn't ruled out a run for the White House in 2008, and this weekend he gave a key speech in an important state. Daschle was the featured speaker at an event for Iowa democrats, the state whose caucuses kick off the presidential campaign. Former Senator Tom Daschle told Iowa democrats the Bush presidency is effectively over, and it's time for his party to take back the country. If Daschle decides to run for president himself, he'll make many more trips to Iowa, and democrats there say so far he's been well...

The South Dakota Democrat, defeated for re-election last November, made the comment in a foreign policy speech set for delivery in Chicago on Wednesday, three days before a planned visit to politically pivotal Iowa. Daschle has raised his public profile in recent weeks and has not ruled out a presidential run in 2008. In an advance text of the speech, obtained by The Associated Press, Daschle said terrorism and AIDS had become greater threats under the Bush administration. He accused President Bush of giving rise to "a world opinion that now holds America in lower esteem than ever before." "Looking...

Daschle Aims to Stay Engaged Former Senate minority leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) isn't running for president in 2008 -- yet. "It interests me," Daschle acknowledged. "I don't have any plans to run, but I am going to keep my options open."Tom Daschle lost his South Dakota Senate seat last year. Will the former top Senate Democrat seek the White House in 2008? (File photo) Daschle would not commit to a national race in an interview Friday at his new office at Alston & Bird in Washington, D.C.  But he gave every indication that he has been thinking long and hard...

Tom Daschle, a former US senator who lost his seat last year, told AFP that he was undecided about whether to run as a candidate in 2008 presidential elections that will decide who will succeed George W. Bush. "I haven't made any decision about my political future," he said during a visit to Paris when asked specifically about his plans regarding the presidency. "My hope is to make as much of a contribution for my party over the next couple of years as I can," he said. Daschle, who used to be the leader of the Democrats in the US...