Another New Poll: Thune Leading Daschle 49%-46%; National Democrats Panic, Break Pledge Not to Intervene

Rasmussen Reports has released another new poll today showing Thune winning 49%-46%. I'll get the details later. Yesterday, a McLaughlin poll showed Thune winning 49%-45%. In addition, Daschle's situation has gotten so bad that he's breaking his pledge to keep outside Democratic groups from intervening in South Dakota. This is not to say that anyone took Daschle's "pledge" that seriously. It was clearly designed as a club to beat Thune with. But when Daschle fell behind, he quickly broke his word--a familiar pattern--and brought in the big guns from DC. Again, remember how good Daschle's "pledges" and "promises" are. Note this release from the Thune campaign:

DASCHLE VIOLATES THIRD PARTY AD PLEDGE

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to air ads in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS – Despite pledging no third party ads would air on his behalf, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in Washington, D.C. will begin airing more than $600,000 in ads this week on behalf of Senator Tom Daschle’s “struggling” campaign.

“Once again, Tom Daschle says one thing in South Dakota and does another thing in Washington, D.C.,” said John Thune for Senate campaign manager Dick Wadhams. “Daschle solemnly promised no third party ads would air on his behalf in South Dakota but now his national Democratic Party friends are rolling in after all.”

As recently as September 14, 2004 Daschle said in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader that “Not one group has come in on my behalf. In fact, three outside groups that ran ads in 2002 have specifically stated they’ll respect my request-the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.”

Democratic Senate candidates are facing tough campaigns in Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

“Other Democratic Senate candidates in tough races across the nation must be perplexed and disappointed that dollars are being diverted to the vaunted Senate Minority Leader’s campaign,” Wadhams said. “Daschle has already spent an incredible $19 million but apparently he still needs the DSCC to divert funds from other tough races to help his struggling campaign.”

“Daschle’s duplicity is terribly consistent,” Wadhams said. “Daschle tries to be pro-abortion and anti-abortion. Tom Daschle votes against tax cuts but says he for tax cuts. Tom Daschle says he lives in South Dakota but then he declares himself a ‘D.C. resident’.”