Daschle's Caucus

Today's edition of The Hill carries perhaps the most important story to date on the Daschle-Thune race. Apparently, all is not well among the Senate Democrats:

A series of recent defeats in the Senate, capped by last month’s passage of the landmark Medicare bill, has caused deep rifts among Democrats, with some even threatening to try to force the removal of Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (N.D.) from the leadership, according to aides, The Hill has learned.

Apparently many Democrats are angry with Dorgan for siding with the Republicans on the energy and prescription drug bills. Dorgan was thinking about his own re-election in North Dakota--he faces the same balancing act that Daschle does. Some Democratic Senators are saying that Daschle is similarly "distracted" by his home-state challenge from John Thune. Senator Reid's support in the caucus is also noted, implying a possible leadership challenge:

Several Democratic senators conceded that Daschle had been distracted by his own re-election campaign against former Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.). But Daschle also has earned respect from colleagues for his willingness to consult with members.

Reid is popular in the caucus for the long hours he puts in on the Senate floor.

The Hill also notes that Dodd, another possible challenger to Daschle for the leadership post, is less than impressed with Daschle's leadership:

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who ran against Daschle for leader and lost by one vote, said Democrats have had “good leadership here.” But he added, “There is an appetite out there for Democrats to start answering in a more aggressive way … policies that we disagree with.”

The entire rationale of Daschle's candidacy is his "clout" and "power" in Washington. If that is even remotely in question, it undermines his strongest argument for re-election. More disconcerting for Daschle, as noted by South Dakota Politics, is that Senator Feinstein says Daschle allows his national duties to trump South Dakota concerns.

For more on the Daschle juggling act, see this article in Roll Call.

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