Senate race both parties must win

Even George Bush admits the contest for a Congressional seat in South Dakota is second in importance only to his fight with John Kerry

(snip)

For the first time since he entered the Senate in 1986, Mr Daschle is fighting for his political survival. But there is much more than his career in play. Control of the Senate is also at stake, and all that that means - a legislative veto, the right to ratify foreign treaties and the power to shape the supreme court.

The Republicans have a two-vote majority in the Senate. The Democrats have an outside chance of overturning that margin, but virtually no chance if their Senate leader loses this excruciatingly tight race to a popular and photogenic Republican, John Thune. "This is a very pivotal election," Mr Daschle said in an interview after the last potential voter had drifted out into the cool, prairie night. "We can't win back the Senate without winning this race, and the president himself has said this is the second-most important race in the country. It's become the most expensive race per capita in American political history."

If George Bush is re-elected, Mr Daschle will continue to be the Democrats' last line of defence against the president's second-term agenda. If John Kerry wins the presidency, on the other hand, the senator from South Dakota will be his right-hand man in Congress.

Either way, it will make an enormous difference if Mr Daschle is leader of the minority, as is the case now, or of the majority - in which case he will have a decisive say in the Senate's order of business, and his office will become a power centre to rival the White House. "We are involved on a regular basis, we confirm all ambassadors and ratify all treaties, so it has a huge importance," Mr Daschle said. "The next president and the next Senate are likely to confirm two or three new supreme court justices. There is little doubt that the direction the supreme court takes over the next 20 or 30 years will be determined at this election."

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1329914,00.html

He hardly ever stands up to the Republicans in spite of all the evil things they do. He seems like a nice enough guy but I wish we had someone stronger. In spite of that, I really don't want the Dems to lose a seat.

as much as he could under the circumstances. I think he can be a very effective majority leader. Besides which, I think he has a healthy respect for Kerry and has earned some respect from the other side of the aisle too. (At the very least, he's a lot better than Zell Miller.)

:smoke:

-Laelth

Faint praise, indeed.

And a slightly tardy welcome to DU, Laelth! :hi:

Thanks for the warm welcome. :toast:

Yes, many of us down here in GA are quite embarrased and feel quite betrayed by our ex-Senator. Just trying to point out that the alternative to Daschle could be much worse.

:smoke:

-Laelth

no worries here.