WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle demanded "a fuller explanation and apology" from Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott on Wednesday for saying the nation would have been better off if segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the presidency in 1948. Daschle, who had earlier dismissed Lott's comments as misstatements, pushed for the action as a flap over Lott's remark last week escalated with reports the Mississippi Republican made a similar comment two decades ago. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) reiterated President Bush (news - web sites) maintains confidence in Lott, who planned to...