Bob Dole comes to Daschle's defense

For the second time this month, Bob Dole is lending support to a troubled Cabinet nominee.

Today, the former Kansas senator offered his hand to Tom Daschle, the former Democratic Senate leader who is President Obama's pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department. This month, Daschle, the former South Dakota senator, paid more than $100,000 in back taxes.

Said Dole in a statement to reporters: "I’ve known Tom Daschle for nearly 30 years. I worked with him in the Senate until I left in 1996 and since then on such issues as farFormer Sen. Tom DaschleFormer Sen. Tom Daschlem legislation, energy, health care and many others. For the past four years we have worked together at the Alston & Bird law firm in Washington, DC.

"The one thing I feel certain about is Senator Daschle’s honesty and integrity. I was pleased when Senator Daschle was nominated to be Secretary of HHS and honored when he asked me to introduce him at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on January 8 and the Senate Finance Committee, which will take place in the very near future.

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