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South Dakota has become the first battleground in a war of political superpowers. Political ads are already crowding local television news broadcasts. A conservative Washington group accuses Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of blocking tax cuts. Political observers say the effort to demote Daschle to minority leader is being waged in his home state, where another senate seat may be vulnerable.

	Democrat Tom Daschle, Senate Majority Leader, is the subject of a series of attack ads in his home state of South Dakota - even though he's not up for re-election for another two years. The ads claim he's holding up bills to improve the economy. •Listen to the attack ad. •Listen to Daschle's ad in response. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Daschle's office)

It appears there's a reference to Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle in nearly every political ad. Daschle has become a prop for Democrats and Republicans. Republican Congressman John Thune uses Daschle's picture while talking about bipartisan teamwork. Thune is running for the U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Tim Johnson, whom Daschle supports. Daschle isn't up for re-election for another two years.

Daschle is also targeted by a conservative group trying to elect Republicans. The group, called "Club For Growth," is running television ads aimed at showing South Dakotans a different, more liberal Tom Daschle. The ad starts by promoting President Bush's effort to lower taxes and create more jobs.

"One man stands in the way - Tom Daschle. On tax cuts, Daschle said no. On economic stimulus, Daschle said no. On limiting Washington spending, Daschle said no. Now we have the Daschle deficits. Tell Tom Daschle to put our jobs ahead of his petty partisanship," the ad says.

Club For Growth President Stephen Moore was in Sioux Falls recently to recruit new members. He says Tom Daschle is to blame for the country's economic condition. So Moore will spend $500,000 in television ads over the next nine months. Half of that will be in South Dakota.

Tom Daschle says he will respond to all the charges against him in some fashion. He may issue a press statement. He may hold a press conference. Or he says, he'll run paid ads of his own. He's already running a 60-second ad talking about the economy.

	Stephen Moore is president of Club For Growth, a conservative group which is targeting Sen. Tom Daschle. Moore visited South Dakota recently, hoping to convince farmers that Daschle does not represent their best interests. •Listen to his comments. •Sen. Daschle's Web site. (MPR Photo/Cara Hetland)

"You've seen the ads attacking Tom Daschle. But what's the real story? There are two plans to stimulate our economy. One plan gives billions of dollars in tax cuts to special interests. In fact, many would not have to pay any taxes at all. Enron, for example, would get a $250 million tax cut. Tom Daschle has a better plan," says Daschle's ad.

The ad goes on to explain Daschle's plan. It would offer tax cuts to 45 million people, expand unemployment benefits to part-time workers and offer help paying health insurance to unemployed workers.

Political scientists say usually silence is a better defense to a negative political campaign. Tom Daschle disagrees.

"An unanswered charge sometimes leads people to believe there isn't an answer. I don't want to leave that possibility out there," says Daschle. "If somebody makes an accusation, I think it is important often times for people to hear both sides. If you don't, you concede the point often times, and we're just not prepared to do that."

University of South Dakota political scientist Bill Richardson says Republicans want Daschle to lose his majority leadership position at home. The Democrats control the Senate by one seat. A Thune victory could tip the balance to the Republicans. Richardson says Republicans are playing off the popularity of the president, but outside conservative groups also have a plan.

"Some of the outside groups independently are going to try to join in, and they may or may not be as helpful as they think they will be," he says.

Richardson says the next nine months will be the nastiest campaign battle South Dakota has seen in recent memory. He says voters could respond two ways.

"Some of the outside groups independently are going to try to join in, and they may or may not be as helpful as they think they will be." - Political scientist Bill Richardson

"Whether they are willing to just say, 'A pox on both your houses,' and not show up at the polls at all in November," says Richardson. "Or if they just decide that this has been so nasty - and they link some of the nastiness to one candidate or the other - this can have a negative effect on that candidate's success in the race."

Richardson says South Dakota voters are typically conservative Republicans, but support Democrats regularly. He says there's a stubborn independent streak - most likely to be repelled by nasty campaign advertisements.

One of the most stubborn of South Dakota residents is the farmer. Ron Foster, who farms in Brookings County, supports Sen. Daschle. He doesn't like any outside group telling him to think differently.

"Sen. Daschle has done South Dakota farmers as much as any politician ever thought about doing for us. He's trying to help farmers without hindering the government," Foster says. "All he wants is to get us a decent price. or give us a little bit so we don't all quit and there's no food."

Foster and three of his friends turned out early this week to catch Club for Growth president Stephen Moore. The farmers were on hand to present a gift basket filled with South Dakota farm products.

After they waited several hours, Stephen Moore went out a side door - ignoring the farmers - and drove away. Foster says that's not how business is done in South Dakota.

"All I wanted was five minutes. I was told by the man at the door that he was going to be in there for a long time, and five minutes later he's running out the side door. Isn't anybody interested in us farmers? please help us," Foster says.

	Ron Foster, a farmer from Brookings County, S.D., and three of his friends turned out early this week to catch Club for Growth president Stephen Moore. The farmers were on hand to present a gift basket filled with South Dakota farm products. They waited for several hours, but Moore left by a side door and never met with them. Foster, a supporter of Daschle, says that's not how to do business in South Dakota. (MPR Photo/Cara Hetland)

At an afternoon press conference, Stephen Moore said the farmers would have been welcomed later but his schedule was simply too tight. He says it's the farmers he wants to educate about the real Tom Daschle.

"This a very fiscally conservative state. It matches so well with our national platform with fiscal conservatism, tax cuts to promote economic growth, more choice in education. Those kinds of issues are very popular with South Dakota voters," says Moore.

Moore says Daschle has South Dakota voters fooled. He says the Senate Majority Leader isn't the same man in Washington as he is back home talking with farmers. He says Daschle is much more liberal than anyone in South Dakota realizes.

Tom Daschle says while no one in South Dakota knows who Club for Growth is, everybody knows Tom Daschle.

"I've had many many elections over the years and many of my opponents have made that same charge. I think the people of my state know who I am," says Daschle. "I've not made any secret of how I've voted. My record is completely public. I think I vote the way the people of my state want me to vote. And where there is a difference, I will come home and explain it and hope that people understand. But I feel I'm very much in sync with the people of my state."

Political scientist Bill Richardson agrees Club For Growth has to explain what it stands for before South Dakotans will welcome the group's message. Richardson says this won't be the only conservative group to attack Daschle.

Some reports trace the Daschle attack campaign to the White House. Before the November election, South Dakotans can expect visits by President Bush and many members of his cabinet.

Sen. Tom Daschle's office