Daschle, Thune exchange campaign barbs

[Freddie Stubbs]

Third-party ad limits, spending caps pushed aside by candidates

By Scott Waltman

American News Writer


Posturing for nice-guy status in South Dakota's U.S. Senate race continues.

A couple weeks after Republican John Thune's camp rejected Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle's offer to keep third-party advertisements out of the campaign, Daschle nixed a counteroffer.

On Tuesday, Thune asked Daschle to limit spending for the election cycle to $10 million per candidate. He said he believed it was in the best interests of South Dakotans to cap spending at that level.

"Earlier this year, you indicated you would raise and spend at least $10 million. When I formally entered the race on Jan. 5, 2004, I indicated we hoped to raise and spend around $6 million, so I am conceding a strong advantage to you with this challenge," Thune wrote to Daschle.

more: http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/9000761.htm