BOXERED IN
Despite the recent public relations setback by Republicans in the
Senate, Democrats there remain concerned about the coming election
cycle. More Democratic senators are up for re-election in 2004 than
Republicans, and the thinking is they will face stiffer competition
from Republicans this time around, as the GOP tries to broaden its
margin of majority.
With that in mind, Democrats were alarmed when they heard rumors
after election day that California Sen. Barbara
Boxer was mulling retirement from the Senate in 2004 in
order to focus on a run for governor back home.
“She may still run for governor,” says a Senate Democratic
leadership source. “But if she does, it’s going to be from the
position of a sitting senator, not a civilian.”
That’s because the Senate leadership — Sen. Tom
Daschle and Sen. Harry Reid — went to
Boxer and made it clear the party could not afford to run a new
candidate in California in 2004 if it expected to have any chance
of re-taking the Senate.
“Building up a new candidate in California would just put us in
too deep a hole. We’d be sunk,” says a staffer on the Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Boxer has stated publicly that she has no interest in running
for governor, and that the country needs her in the Senate. But
financial backers in California report back to Washington that
Boxer was mulling retirement in order to run for the gubernatorial
position, and that she had contacted her big money men about how
they could best help her.
“Now she’s going to have to do both,” says a Los Angeles based
donor. “She’ll easily win re-election in 2004, then she’ll run for
governor two years later and get to appoint her replacement. She
gets the best of both worlds.”
SOUNDS EXCITING
Democrats in the Senate expect former majority leader Tom
Daschle to announce at least an exploratory committee for
a possible bid for the party presidential nomination in 2004.
Daschle has met privately over the past month or so with board
members of the Democratic National Committee, including several
get-togethers with party chief Terry
McAuliffe.
One impediment to Daschle’s running was thought to be his wife,
Linda, who is a prominent lobbyist in Washington. In the past,
Daschle has privately told supporters that she did not support a
presidential run.
But as recently as the week before Christmas, Daschle indicated
to supporters that his family was now fully behind a run should he
decide to dip his toe into the pool.
Daschle’s Senate colleagues are already lining up to challenge
for what is now the minority leader slot. Nevada Sen. Harry
Reid, who is expected to be a target for Republicans in
his re-election bid in 2004, is considered the frontrunner. For the
past several years he has served as Daschle’s No. 2. But Reid
doesn’t have anything in the bag. Chris Dodd, a
media favorite, is making loud noises about challenging for the
job.
