Posted on 10/23/2006 2:53:40 PM PDT by finnman69
WASHINGTON - Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle predicted on Monday that Democrats will pick up seven U.S. Senate seats this year and said his party needs to "restore the confidence that has been lost about Congress."
Daschle, who was Senate Democratic Leader when he lost to Republican John Thune in 2004, also predicted his party would pick up around 25 seats in the U.S. House.
"It looks awfully good," Daschle said on C-SPAN's Washington Journal.
Daschle said he hopes South Dakota voters will defeat a state ballot measure that would ban most abortions.
"I think it is too extreme," he said of a measure that will be on South Dakota's Nov. 7 ballot.
It would ban nearly all abortions except when necessary to save a woman's life. One provision would allow a victim of rape or incest to get emergency contraceptives before a pregnancy could be detected through conventional medical testing.
He also demurred on a possible run for president.
"I haven't made any decisions, any announcements," he said. "I think there's a big field out there ... and it's going to be exciting to see what's going to happen."
Daschle visited the politically pivotal states of New Hampshire and Iowa earlier this year to discuss a possible run with voters there.
In the interview Monday, Daschle downplayed the prospects of some potential Democratic opponents.
On Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who said Sunday he is considering seeking the nomination, Daschle said it's "appropriate" he's thinking about a run.
"I think because of the tremendous amount of enthusiasm and support that Sen. Obama has around the country, you'd be foolish not to give it some very careful thought ... And I hope he does make a very thoughtful evaluation of whether a race at this point makes sense or not."
He said New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is not a lock for the nomination.
"I think even Sen. Clinton would tell you that she is not, she is not a candidate yet, and it's hard to say," Daschle said. "I don't think anyone has a lock on it."
Wasn't he predicting the same thing back in 2004? You know, just before the people of South Dakota FIRED him?
He must mean RI, PA, MT, OH, VA,, MO, and TN, with no pickups. Possible.
The "D" next to his name is no longer for Democrat because it's now for "Deeply Saddened"!
Tommt, you're a loser, remember that!
Is the rumor true......that little "Puff" Daschle need a step stool to piss into a standard wall urinal?
It could explain his preference to "squat to pee".
Semper Fi
hilarious
Tommy, why don't you tell us something we really want to know... like how much your wife made lobbying congress while you were in the Senate?
Meanwhile, the irrelevant has been is still out of the Senate. In the popular venacular, he is a loser.
Republicans: Daschle will pick his nose.
Thats funny, I don't care who you are, that there is funny.
TT
Oh, thank you.
I was hoping someone would post that pic.
Does this plick think he is still relevant?
Look who just piped up ---- Little tommy Dashole.
What's he been up to lately? NO good probably.
I'm not sure what you are referencing as to even?
LLS
His full name is Barack Hussein Obama.
No joke.
Shut up you Daschole, you haven't got a clue.
Little Tommie is now on the board of directors at the Mayo Clinic. He is helping the clinic fight a railroad expansion through Rochester,MN. The clinic feels the upgrade would cause them distress.
This is a multi-billion dollar project to move Wyoming coal nearer the power plants in the east.
Tom is working against the railroad WHICH IS BASED IN HIS HOME STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA!
Wonder why we voted his a** out? He had lost touch with us "little people".
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