Tom Daschle

Thomas Andrew Daschle (born December 9, 1947), known as Tom Daschle, was a U.S. Senator from South Dakota and the Senate Minority Leader. A United States Democratic Party, he was narrowly defeated on November 2, 2004, by the Republican candidate, John Thune, in his bid for re-election.

Loss of Senate seat in 2004

In the U.S. Senate election, 2004 Congressional elections, Daschle lost his seat to Republican challenger and former U.S. Representative John Thune in a bitterly contested battle. Bill Frist unprecedentedly visited South Dakota to lobby and campaign for Thune, quite successfully. Thune did better in the polls, and some believed he won the televised debates. Thune also argued that with a Republican President and Congress in control, a Republican senator would be able to keep South Dakota's major military base Ellsworth safe from the upcoming round of closures. Some argued that Stephanie Herseth's election to the state's only House seat hurt Daschle, as voters may not have been comfortable sending an all-Democratic delegation to Congress for the first time in many decades.

Related Topics:
U.S. Senate election, 2004 - John Thune - Bill Frist - South Dakota - Ellsworth - Stephanie Herseth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Daschle's loss resulted in the first ousting of a majority or minority leader since 1952 when Arizona Senator Ernest McFarland lost his seat to Barry Goldwater. Daschle's Senate term expired on January 4, 2005. He has not made intentions clear as to whether or not he will run again for office; however, he has signed on as an advisor to lobbying firm Alston & Bird and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Related Topics:
1952 - Ernest McFarland - Barry Goldwater - January 4 - 2005 - Lobbying - Center for American Progress

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In late September of 2005, Daschle caught the attention of the media by reactivating his political action committee, changing its name from DASHPAC to Leadership for a New America PAC and procuring a speaking slot at the Iowa Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner. Daschle also endorsed Supreme Court of the United States Chief Justice candidate John Roberts. These moves are widely interpreted by the media as either an exploration of a potential 2008 presidential candidacy or an opening gambit in a run for governor of South Dakota in 2006.

Related Topics:
September - Political action committee - Iowa - Jefferson-Jackson Day - Supreme Court of the United States - John Roberts - 2008 presidential candidacy - Governor of South Dakota - 2006

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~