South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle isn't a fool. The senior senator is running for re-election in a state President Bush easily carried in 2000 and he doesn't want to become a victim of Bush's coattails in 2004.

Daschle told state chamber of commerce representatives meeting in the South Dakota capital that he is satisfied with the way things are going in Iraq.

"I give the effort overall real credit," Daschle said. "It is a good thing Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. It is a good thing we are democratizing the country."

He said he is not upset about the debate over pre-war intelligence on weapons of mass destruction, an issue that has dogged President Bush as Democratic presidential contenders have slogged through the primary season.

Now, this doesn't mean that Daschle will disavow or take to task the likely Democrat presidential nominee, whether it be John Kerry or John Edwards, on the issue. Though Daschle's opponent, John Thune, should pressure him to.