Mixed emotions for Obama Supporters? Tom Daschle "Secret Sauce" of Obama's Campaign

[wyldwolf]

Three years ago, it took a nasty, industrial-strength assault by Karl Rove & Co. to oust Democratic leader Tom Daschle from his Senate seat. But if Republicans thought they had seen the last of the resilient South Dakotan, they were wrong. He’s back, this time behind the scenes, as a sort of secret sauce in the surging presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.

... he is providing newcomer Obama with valuable endorsements, staff, fundraising lists and brotherly advice. “He brings an unrivaled mix of policy knowledge and political expertise,” said Steven Hildebrand, an Obama senior campaign advisor.

The two men share a similar approach to both the process and substance of politics: a certain soft-spoken meticulousness, and a desire to blunt the sharp edges of partisanship.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18041590/site/newsweek/

Interesting. Daschle, long spoken of on DU as a DLC corporatist, advising Obama on policy and politics. Further, the notion that Daschle and Obama share a desire for bipartisanship has to sting a little to the netroots who often seem to abhor compromise.

Looks like the choice is between a DLC candidate and a candidate being advised by a long time DLC member.

Looks like Obama has moved solidly into my #3 position.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Daschle used to be my Senator--I always liked him, thought he

was smart, if not especially charismatic. I don't think there's any reason why he shouldn't be part of Obama's team.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Obama is not DLC...not a member, even though they tried listing him once

which doesn't mean he can't pick up a few pointers from a skilled politician like Daschle. I'm sure their relationship is far more tactical than ideological. He can also advise Obama on how to remain effective as a Senator during this period. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the private Daschle is far more liberal than his record would suggest. He held a Democratic Senate seat in one of the most conservative states in the country; he had to walk a very fine line in order to keep his job, and he got pummeled here for it (guess everyone's happy now that a neanderthal like Thune has the seat).

We're already seeing similarities in their campaigning styles. Daschle favored long, press-free drives through SD in the summertime to meet with voters in unscripted settings. Obama's doing the same kind of thing in Iowa, which I wrote about the other day:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3206475

[wyldwolf]

3. Didn't say or imply he was

[AtomicKitten]

4. not moved by the DLC distinction or boogyman

I like Tom Daschle. I like Obama. Good match.

[Adelante]

5. Daschle would be a good VP choice for Obama nt