Sen. Daschle Says He Will Be Next Minority Leader
WASHINGTON — Tom Daschle, a soft-spoken, persistent South Dakotan with less than 10 years in the Senate, laid claim to the post of Democratic leader on Tuesday and vowed to forge a legislative program “not dictated solely” by the White House.
Daschle said he had “unequivocal” pledges of support from 24 senators, enough to lead minority Senate Democrats in the Congress that convenes in January. His rival, Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, refused to concede, and a secret ballot election is set for Friday. “We’re still in this, and I wouldn’t be making the calls if I didn’t believe it,” he said.
Daschle, 46, who served four terms in the House before his 1986 Senate election, began running for the Democratic leader’s post within hours of Sen. George J. Mitchell’s surprise announcement earlier this year that he would retire.
Daschle’s election would signify the ascendancy of a younger group of Democrats, elected in the last eight years and too junior to enjoy the power of committee chairmanships.
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