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Daschle sets timeline on bid for president
By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer
Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle says he will make a decision whether to run for the Democratic nomination for president within six months.
And right now, he’s not much interested in anything less than the top spot on his party’s ticket.
“My time frame is five or six months,” Daschle said in an e-mail response to questions by the Journal that arrived Sunday evening. “And, no, I’m not interested in vice president or the cabinet.”
Daschle, a former minority and majority leader in the U.S. Senate, has solid national fund-raising connections and strong ties with Democratic officials. But Daschle said his greatest motivation has been the amount of encouragement he gets to make a run for the White House.
“I guess what keeps me going is the amazing number of people who tell me — in airports, restaurants, grocery stores and on the streets — that they hope I will do it, along with the belief that I would be a good candidate and president,” Daschle said in the e-mail.
Daschle also said he is deeply troubled by the Bush administration’s current handling of the war on terror, the state of U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the worsening situation in Iran.
“We are not winning in Iraq,” Daschle said. “I think we need to be very concerned about Afghanistan. We could lose it. And Iran is deeply disconcerting.”
Political-science professors Jon Schaff of Northern State University in Aberdeen and Bob Burns of South Dakota State University in Brookings agreed Monday that even though Daschle says he isn’t interested in the job of vice president, he probably would take it.
“Any serious candidate for the presidency has to say he’s not interested in VP. He’s interested in the top job, not playing second fiddle,” Schaff said. “My suspicion is that if Tom Daschle was asked by the nominee, he would take it.”
Burns agreed that Daschle would likely accept the second spot on the ticket. And Burns said Daschle also might look seriously at the right cabinet position if a Democrat were elected president.
“Something like secretary of defense or state would be hard to turn down,” Burns said. “His greatest quality as a Senate leader was his ability to listen and really hear other people, and that would be a great strength in dealing with other nations.”
By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer
Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle says he will make a decision whether to run for the Democratic nomination for president within six months.
And right now, he’s not much interested in anything less than the top spot on his party’s ticket.
“My time frame is five or six months,” Daschle said in an e-mail response to questions by the Journal that arrived Sunday evening. “And, no, I’m not interested in vice president or the cabinet.”
Daschle, a former minority and majority leader in the U.S. Senate, has solid national fund-raising connections and strong ties with Democratic officials. But Daschle said his greatest motivation has been the amount of encouragement he gets to make a run for the White House.
“I guess what keeps me going is the amazing number of people who tell me — in airports, restaurants, grocery stores and on the streets — that they hope I will do it, along with the belief that I would be a good candidate and president,” Daschle said in the e-mail.
Daschle also said he is deeply troubled by the Bush administration’s current handling of the war on terror, the state of U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the worsening situation in Iran.
“We are not winning in Iraq,” Daschle said. “I think we need to be very concerned about Afghanistan. We could lose it. And Iran is deeply disconcerting.”
Political-science professors Jon Schaff of Northern State University in Aberdeen and Bob Burns of South Dakota State University in Brookings agreed Monday that even though Daschle says he isn’t interested in the job of vice president, he probably would take it.
“Any serious candidate for the presidency has to say he’s not interested in VP. He’s interested in the top job, not playing second fiddle,” Schaff said. “My suspicion is that if Tom Daschle was asked by the nominee, he would take it.”
Burns agreed that Daschle would likely accept the second spot on the ticket. And Burns said Daschle also might look seriously at the right cabinet position if a Democrat were elected president.
“Something like secretary of defense or state would be hard to turn down,” Burns said. “His greatest quality as a Senate leader was his ability to listen and really hear other people, and that would be a great strength in dealing with other nations.”
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