January 4, 2004
60-40 VISIONS:
Thune to announce his Senate decision Monday (David Kranz, 1/4/2004, Argus Leader)
Former Republican U.S. Rep. John Thune will announce his political future Monday night, but there seems to be little doubt about what he will do.Thune will make the announcement at Lincoln County's Lincoln Day Dinner in Sioux Falls.
Several of the former congressman's good friends in the state say he has decided to challenge Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.National Republicans have been playing a lead role in encouraging Thune to run. One of those top-level operatives in Washington said last week that he feels comfortable their mission is accomplished.
"We are confident he is running," he said. "We were always under the impression he was going to make the race."
George McGovern lost SD in the '80 Reagan blowout. It would hardly even be an upset if Mr. Daschle loses in the coming blowout. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 4, 2004 2:55 PM
the irony is rich in Thune beating Dashchle, who was most certainly in on the Indian reservation moves whhich cheated Thune out of the last election, which would have prevented Daschle from facing this now.
Posted by: neil at January 4, 2004 4:32 PMNot to mention the schadenfreude that will overcome me as Bush's coattails aid in Daschle's exit. There is also a chance that Daschle will "need to spend more time with his family" soon after Thune's announcement. K St. beckons and his wife certainly knows the ropes.
Posted by: RDB at January 4, 2004 10:04 PMI am certainly hoping, however, be always be prepared to be humbled by the truism that politics is always local, and see a "Crimson Red, W state" vote an all Dem congressional delegation -- i.e., Daschle eeks it out and Janklow's seat goes to some nationally unknown Dem. There are some weird states in the union. LA is one of them. SD apears to be not far behind.
Posted by: MG at January 5, 2004 9:51 AM