South Dakota GOP Senator Thune distances himself from Bush
RAW
STORYhttp://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/ ... _0719.html
Published: Wednesday July 19, 2006
First-term Republican Senator John Thune from South Dakota who received major accolades from President George W. Bush has stated his intent to distance himself from the administration, RAW STORY has learned.
The Associated Press reported that the Senator who defeated former Democrat Minority Leader Tom Daschle in the 2004 election declared at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, "If I were running in the state this year, you obviously don't embrace the president and his agenda."
Thune is seeking to be elevated to the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2008, and warned that because the president's approval ratings are so low, "these are going to be tough races to win," referring to this November's Congressional elections.
In September 2002 remarks, President Bush said of Thune "that he's a fellow who can get things done on behalf of the citizens of South Dakota and the citizens of our country," and that "I'm proud to endorse him and to work as hard as I possibly can to see that he becomes the next senator from South Dakota." Prior to his successful election, Vice President Dick Cheney also said "You deserve a United States senator dedicated to serving the people of South Dakota, and that's exactly what you'll get when you elect John Thune to the United States Senate....And as President of the United States Senate, I look forward to swearing him in next January."
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Frankly, I think distancing himself from Bush isn't going to make a lot of difference to SD progressives (are there any?) who pay attention to this senator's record:
http://irregularnews.com/senate/senThuneSD.html
Catherine
