The AP reports that Democrats running for state offices around the nation have one thing in common -- a desire to put as much distance between themselves and John Kerry as possible:

Democrats running for the Senate in Republican-leaning states want to be more like President Bush clearing brush in Crawford, Texas, than John Kerry windsurfing off Nantucket Island, Mass.

Democratic chances of regaining control of the Senate may depend on candidates who run away from their party platform and their presidential contender.

"We've got eight or nine really competitive races and just about all are in strong Bush states," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "Democrats have some bad luck here."

I'd argue that it has less to do with bad luck than it does from the obstructionist tactics of the Democratic Senate contingent the past four years. Obviously, Democrats got elected in these states six years ago, so winning a majority didn't amount to Mission Impossible back then. Now, however, they've been unmasked in their unprecedented hijacking of presidential duties, and the one who faces perhaps the toughest race is the architect of their strategy -- Tom Daschle, who campaigned in South Dakota by showing clips of him hugging George Bush:

The Senate's top Democrat, Minority Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota, has run an ad showing him embracing the president when Bush spoke to Congress shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. The message was that Daschle can work with Bush when necessary. Republican opponent John Thune says Daschle is a major source of the gridlock that has blocked much of Bush's agenda in Congress.

Perhaps South Dakotans will remind Tom Daschle tomorrow of the wisdom contained in "As Time Goes By", the classic song from Casablanca:

You must remember this,
A kiss is just a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh ...
The fundamental things apply,
As Time Goes By.

Fundamentally, Dashle has been an obstructionist. He may have hugged George Bush once, but he's had his lips pressed firmly to Ted Kennedy's backside ever since. South Dakotans won't be fooled into thinking otherwise.

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» Dems running away from Kerry from Commonwealth Conservative
Interesting post at Captain's Quarters, about this AP report that says Dems running for office around the country are putting as much distance between themselves and John Kerry as possible. Read the post here; good analysis. [Read More]

Tracked on November 1, 2004 11:08 AM

» Some Final Thoughts Before the Election from Daddypundit
A few final thoughts as we approach Election Day: [Read More]

Tracked on November 1, 2004 3:48 PM