Say Anything Blog

Uber-liberal Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota is now running a campaign commercial that would seem to be an indirect endorsement of the President.

Drudge Report - While Democrat party officials of all stripes descend on New York City to blast the president, Daschle has quietly purchased air time in his home state for the minute-long campaign commercial -- a commercial insiders have dubbed: "Bush Hug..."

"This is delightful!" laughed one republican official in New York on Monday morning. "Senator Daschle now concedes supporting the president can score him votes in the fall!"

Here's a transcript of the commercial:

Announcer:

Sen. Tom Daschle: Tonight, the President has called us again to greatness, and tonight we answer that call.

Male Voice: In our country's hour of need, Tom Daschle made us proud.

Sen. Richard Durbin: Tom Daschle called us together and said, 'we have to keep this nation safe and secure.' I thought that was one of his finest moments. He really said in those moments what all of us felt, that before we are Democrats, before we are Republicans, we're Americans.

Sen. Carl Levin: Tom Daschle has a great inner strength and toughness, which is why Tom is such a great leader.

Male Voice: Senator Daschle helped forge a consensus to rebuild our military.

Headline: Daschle: Time to Unite Behind Troops, Bush

On Screen: Daschle and President Bush hug on House floor.

Male Voice: Tom won significant increases in homeland security and helped provide law enforcement new tools to track down terrorists.

Headline: Daschle, mayors pitch homeland security

Headline: Daschle Calls For More Body Armor For S.D. Soldiers in Iraq

Male Voice: And no one has done more to get our troops the equipment they need or ensure our veterans are taken care of when they return home.

Headline: Sen. Daschle receives 'Unsung Hero' award from American Legion

Daschle: I'm Tom Daschle and I approve this ad, because a strong military and a strong America is the best way to fight terrorism.

I'm not sure how you all take that last bit, but it seems to me as though that is a pretty clear endorsement of the President and his war on terror.

Daschle is facing some heavy competition from Republican John Thune so my thought is that this is Daschle's way of re-connecting with his moderate, mid-western constituents.

Update:

RNC Communications Director Jim Dyke:

Today the Democrats in New York are accusing the President of the United States of failing to lead and win the war on terror. Even Sen. Daschle must find these attacks baseless since his re-election campaign is running commercials embracing (literally hugging) President Bush's leadership in the War on Terror.