The War At Home

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One week after Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) blistered the Bush administration over its unsuccessful diplomatic efforts in Iraq, national strategists on both sides of the aisle are debating the effect the comments will have on his likely re-election bid in 2004.

Speaking to a union legislative conference in Washington on March 17, Daschle said he was “saddened that this president failed so miserably that we’re now forced to war.”

The war in Iraq began two days later, and Daschle was blasted by a number of GOP leaders, including Speaker Dennis Hastert (Ill.) and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Texas).

Daschle’s remarks generated a handful of angry editorials and letters to the editor back home. The Yankton Press & Dakotan said that Daschle was “singing the wrong tune.”

The criticism is now being cultivated by Republican campaign operatives who see Daschle’s comments as crystallizing the apparent difficulty he faces in simultaneously serving as his party’s leading statesman —and critic of the president — while running for re-election in a state where Bush won 60 percent of the vote in 2000.

“This is a clear example of the fact that Senator Daschle’s position in Washington doesn’t always fit well with the voters back in South Dakota,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Communications Director Dan Allen.

The leading potential Republican challenger to Daschle, former Rep. John Thune, who lost a 2002 challenge to Sen. Tim Johnson (D), chose not to comment on the hubbub. Ryan Nelson, a spokesman for Thune’s new 527 group — South Dakotans for Responsible Government — said that “many South Dakotans found [Daschle’s] comments disturbing.”

Nelson would not say whether Daschle’s statements will play a role in Thune’s ultimate decision.

“There are several factors that will be a part of that decision-making process,” said Nelson. “John wants somebody who is going to vote with South Dakota values and support our president.”

Steve Hildebrand, campaign manager for Daschle, maintained that the criticism of Bush’s policies was warranted and said that the controversy will not prompt Daschle to take a lower profile in the future.

“This isn’t about being the leading critic of President Bush,” Hildebrand said. “This is about whether the Bush policies are right for South Dakota and the nation. If not, Senator Daschle will continue to be critical.”

Hildebrand noted that while South Dakota gave Bush a 22-percent victor in 2000, Daschle won 62 percent in 1998, the last time he stood for re-election.

Daschle became a major factor during the 2002 Johnson-Thune race, as Republican groups ran scads of ads attacking him. Democrats familiar with that race note that in Johnson’s polling, Daschle’s favorability never dropped below 61 percent despite the attacks, which they believe diminishes Republican hopes of toppling him in 2004.

“This is nothing new,” said one Daschle strategist about Republican tactics. “The ‘demonize Daschle’ program continues full tilt.”

Although the South Dakota Senate election remains in its infant stages, already both sides are gearing up for what could become the marquee race of the cycle if Thune decides to run.

Daschle has “focused like a laser on South Dakota” since he made the decision to run for re-election, noted one Democratic Senate aide.

During a three-day trip to his home state for the Presidents Day holiday last month, Daschle stopped in 12 communities as part of an “economic listening tour,” according to the aide. He is expected to make a similar trip this weekend.