So Thune is unofficially challenging Daschle in SD (the official announcement will come later). We already know this. And here's what the race will come
down to:
Daschle responded to Thune's announcement with a prepared statement, reminding people of his influence.
"One question should guide this election. What is best for South Dakota? My leadership position in the Senate gives South Dakota an unprecedented opportunity to put our priorities on the national agenda," he said.
Daschle said he has worked with presidents of both parties to do what is best for South Dakota, including "convincing President Clinton to veto legislation that would devastate recreation on the Missouri River and to reject California's request not to use ethanol as required by law, or whether it was working with President Bush this last year to enact forest health legislation that will be a big benefit to the people in the Black Hills."
In an interview following his speech, Thune said the election will come down to 30,000 or 40,000 undecided voters.
"The reason we lost the last time was because of the clout argument. This time we will talk about the future, about Tom Daschle's record and whether clout is an issue anymore," he said.
Daschle will run on clout, clout, clout, clout. Thune will do everything in his power to change the subject.
Thune's effort will be run by Dick Wadhams. While that seems like an extraordinarily obscure bit of "inside baseball", bear with me.
Wadhams will be the campaign manager for lobbyist John Thune, a former South Dakota congressman who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2002.
Wait a minute, a lobbyist?
After all, it was Wadhams who in the 1996 and 2002 matchups between Tom Strickland and Wayne Allard turned the phrase lawyer-lobbyist into a pejorative.
After Wadham is done in the SD race, "lawyer-lobbyist" will be a
great thing. He's that good:
Wadhams immediately went to work, spinning the race.
"What do you call it when the minority leader has $3 million in the bank and a staff of 30 running against a former congressman with no money in the bank and a staff of two people?" Wadhams said.
"I call that a fair fight."
Of course it's all spin. Thune won't hurt for money, and should be able to match anything Daschle can raise. But sometimes you have to salute the enemy and give proper respect. Wadham has been the bane of Democrats in the mountain west. He's an able foe for Daschle's crop of talented and seasoned campaign consultants.