Daschle May Lose -- And Republicans May Regret It

Daschle's loss, if it happens, would not just be an effect of the ever-deepening partisan divide. It could also be a cause. Until two years ago, the two highest-ranking Democrats on Capitol Hill were South Dakotan Daschle and Missourian Dick Gephardt. Both come from red states; both know how to talk to audiences that include some Republicans. If the Democrats had nominated Daschle or Gephardt for President, a lot of Bush aides might be putting their houses on the market about now. But the Democrats chose Kerry, a blue-blood candidate from the bluest of states. Daschle and other red-state Democrats will pay the price. When that happens, Senate Democrats may follow the lead of their House colleagues and replace their fallen leader with someone who better represents the Democratic base -- like House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, a very un-Gephardt-like politician from another very blue state.