Re: Daschole. Remember him?
Excerpted from The Hill; June 2, 2004
Close polls and an intense GOP drive to reclaim a prized South Dakota seat have presented Senate Democrats with a dilemma — they may have to find themselves a new leader next year.
Although no Democrat is predicting that Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle will lose his re-election battle, the fault lines of a potential leadership struggle within the Democratic Caucus are already visible. A Daschle loss would set off a scramble to succeed him as leader, as well as contests for other leadership posts...
...The independent poll, by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and KELO-TV, showed Daschle with a mere two-point lead over former Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.), despite spending more than $5 million on the race...
Republicans call Daschle their top target, and that was highlighted by Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist’s (R-Tenn.) controversial fundraising trip to South Dakota during the recess.
Tom Daschle
Democratic sources ran through a variety of scenarios that could bring such Democratic stalwarts as Sens. Harry Reid (Nev.), Christopher Dodd (Conn.), Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Byron Dorgan (N.D.) and Dick Durbin (Ill.) into open conflict.
Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.)... said Democrats were already developing campaign strategies to succeed Daschle.
Asked how the jockeying would proceed, Lott replied, "It’ll be subtle. You just watch who’s sitting next to people. There’ll be a couple of people that just start making a couple little moves."
Lott said Democratic leadership hopefuls might approach their colleagues and remark, “If anything should happen, I hope you’ll keep me in mind and not do anything until I talk to you.”
Reid would almost certainly try to move up from his job as minority whip if Daschle loses. When Daschle almost ran for president last year, aides believe, Reid had lined up enough commitments to succeed him as leader.
Reid has won praise from members for his tireless work on the floor, such as a commitment he secured from Frist last week to delay a vote to give senators a longer recess.
But some question whether Reid has the television skill to serve as the party’s spokesman, particularly if Republicans keep the White House and Democrats remain in the minority.
“You don’t have support until they put the ballot in the box,” said a Democratic source.
Aides said that Dodd was also making calls to members when it appeared Daschle might leave — a sign that Reid could face a challenge. Daschle defeated Dodd by a single vote when he was elected leader in 1994.
Sources also point to substantial fundraising that potential Democratic leaders have racked up this year. Dodd, who is up for re-election, had raised $3.5 million as of mid-April, with $3.9 million in the bank. Dodd’s political action committee (PAC), CHRIS PAC, had raised $389,000, with $120,000 in contributions to candidates, other PACs and party committees, including a $50,000 contribution to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
Under one scenario, if Reid were to run for leader, Dorgan and Durbin might face off in a whip contest. Dorgan’s campaign has raised $2 million.
Durbin, whose campaign had $1.7 million on hand, has given $70,000 to the DSCC. Sources said such contributions are simply good politics — but they also could be a sign of leadership ambitions.
Other sources said Democratic senators have held off from any activity that would resemble campaigning for a leadership job, such as contacting colleagues and securing commitments of support. Any such maneuvers might be interpreted as a lack of confidence in Daschle...
...Asked if fellow Democrats would maneuver to succeed Daschle, Byrd said, “They won’t do that. Not in a situation like this. That makes you sound too eager, too greedy.” Asked whether are a few members of the Senate who are greedy, Byrd replied, “I don’t know about that.”...
...Meanwhile, sources refuse to rule out a greater leadership role for Clinton, who many believe has her eye on the White House despite her repeated denials. Clinton, who now chairs the Democratic Steering Committee, continues to be a fundraising powerhouse and could decide to seek a title to enhance her de facto leadership role... |
