Thune Defeats Daschle

Republican John Thune, who narrowly lost his first try for the U.S. Senate two years ago, defeated Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota on Tuesday.

Thune had 196,017 votes, or 51 percent, to 187,370 votes for Daschle. Only 16 precincts out of 827 remained to be counted Wednesday morning

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Thune Narrowly Ahead

With 592 of 872 precincts reporting in, John Thune has a narrow lead of just under 5,000 votes against Tom Daschle, leading 51/49. Heavily Republican Pennington County has not yet been counted, nor the heavily Democratic reservations in the southwest of the state.

Thune To Challenge Ruling

The Thune campaign is promising to challenge last night’s ruling against GOP poll-watchers in Charles Mix county in Western South Dakota. The Thune campaign intends to appeal the decision to the US 8th Circuit Court.

The Thune campaign argues that the decision was flawed as it was made by a judge who has a longstanding connection to Daschle. Judge Piersol was Daschle’s personal attorney when he ran for the US House in 1978.

Judge narrows Daschle request

From FOX News: Judge Partially Grants Daschle Poll Request

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A federal judge partially granted Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle’s (search) request to limit the activities of Republican poll watchers, after he accused his opponent and the GOP of intimidating American Indian voters.

The decision early Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol (search) applies only to voters in Charles Mix County. Daschle had requested an order for the whole state.

The federal judge in question is a former lawyer for Daschle and was appointed to the bench by the Senate minority leader.

Turnout High In Sioux Falls

In the city of Sioux Falls, the most populous city in South Dakota, turnout appears to be at record levels. At polling places throughout the city there are already lines at 8AM, although voting appears to be going swiftly and efficiently.

Moronski predicts...the Senate

Today in political punditry from Sean Moronski, he casts an eye over the US Senate races.

Every two years, approximately one-third of the U.S. Senate is up for grabs.  Currently, the GOP has 51 seats to the Dems 49 (including the so-called “independent” from Vermont).  In addition to help shape legislation and policy, this body is responsible for granting consent to judges, cabinet members, and other Federal officials.  Given the potential for several Supreme Court appointments over the next several years, control of this chamber may shape the Federal Judiciary for the next generation.

Almost every political observer believes the parties will swap seats in Georgia (to GOP) and Illinois (Dems win).  Putting aside the non-competitive races, there are eight races that will determine control of the Senate - four in the South and four west of the Mississippi in GOP country.  Of these seats, five are held by Democrats and three by Republicans.

North Carolina.  John Edwards chose to run for Vice President rather than face almost certain defeat facing reelection.  The Dem nominee is Erskine Bowles, former Clinton Chief of Staff, who lost a tough fight in 2002 to Elizabeth Dole.  U.S. Rep. Richard Burr has the GOP nod.  Bowles had a solid lead for weeks, but the race has closed to even in this solidly pro-Bush state. 

South Carolina. After 36 years of serving as Strom Thurmond’s junior Senator, Ernest Hollings is calling it quits.  Republicans nominated U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint while the Dems are running State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.  DeMint is running as a big Bush backer in this hardcore GOP state while Tenenbaum is downplaying any connection to Kerry or the national Democrat party.  Probably a good strategy in a state Bush won’t lose.

Florida.  Another prominent Democrat, Bob Graham, decided to call it a career.  The White House asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez to run.  The Dem nominee is former State Education official Betty Castor.  This big race has been the sideshow in the media’s non-stop examination of the Presidential race here.  

Louisiana.  The wildest of wild cards with a unique open primary system that send the top two finishers regardless of party to a December runoff if no one candidate gets 50% plus one vote on Election Day.  GOP candidate U.S. Rep. David Vitter is virtually assured of making the runoff, polling in the low to mid-40s.  The race here is whether the national Democrats can prevent him from winning outright on November 2, as well as what Democrat would make a runoff.  Louisiana has never elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate, nor has one served from there since Reconstruction. 

South Dakota.  Major race in a state with fewer than 800,000 people.  Home of Senate Democrat leader Tom Daschle, promoting his role as provider of Federal largesse instead of being Bush’s chief opposition in Washington.  Not unwise given that Bush is likely to win this state by at least 15 to 20 points.  His GOP opponent, former U.S. Rep. John Thune, lost a Senate seat here in 2002 by fewer than 600 votes.

Oklahoma.  Surprise GOP retirement opened up safe seat in a sure Bush state.  The GOP nominee, former U.S. Rep Tom Coburn, an obstetrician and anti-GOP establishment type, has made every mistake he can to turn a potential 25 to 30 point Bush lead into a horserace against the state’s lone Democrat congressman, Brad Carson.

Colorado.  Another GOP retirement put this seat in play.  Democrats nominated State Attorney General Ken Salazar while the Republicans are going with Pete Coors (“cold filtered… not heat pasteurized”).  Yes, that Coors.  Rocky Mountain Cold.

Alaska.  In a word — nepotism.  After being elected, new Governor Frank Murkowski had to appoint a successor to the U.S. Senate seat he vacated.  Of course he chose his daughter Lisa, a state senator.  This boneheaded move did the near impossible, creating a competitive U.S. Senate race in Alaska.  The Dem nominee is former two-term governor Tony Knowles.  This state has no business having a competitve statewide race in a presidential election year where Bush will win by 20+ points.

Bottom line… Dems must win 7 of the 8 races to gain control, or 6 if Kerry wins and Edwards can make himself useful and break ties.  All of these states were won by Bush in 2000, seven of them convincingly.  It can go either way… predictions next week.  

Sean is a former YR Chairman and political hack that successfully domesticated himself recently. His keen eye for politics has not waned as yet.

More on Daschle v. Thune

Blogger John Lauk had live reports from the courtroom.

The latest on the story:

Judge Partially Grants Sen. Daschle Request:

A federal judge partially granted Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle’s request to limit the activities of Republican poll watchers, after he accused his opponent and the GOP of intimidating American Indian voters.

The decision early Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol applies only to voters in Charles Mix County. Traditionally, Indians in South Dakota vote heavily Democratic.

As part of the ruling, Republican poll watchers are prohibited from following American Indian voters out of polling places. They are also prohibited from taking down the license plate numbers of American Indians’ vehicles.

Daschle took his Republican opponent, the South Dakota Republican Party and GOP election observers to court late Monday, alleging intimidation of American Indian voters. He asked for a temporary restraining order to prevent Republicans from doing anything that would “harass, intimidate or discourage voters.”

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Posted by Michele at 04:57 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Daschle v. Thune In Court Already

Jon Lauck’s has a source at Daschle v. Thune that is covering a lawsuit brought against the campaign of John Thune by Tom Daschle. Daschle is arguing that certain poll watchers were “intimidating” voters through “ostentatiously making notes” and rolling their eyes. The text of the complaint can be found here.

UPDATE: The Sioux Falls Argus Leader has more on the suit.