Daschle to speak at LV fund-raiser for Reid

Thursday, May 31, 2001 | 10:38 a.m.

South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, who will become the Senate's new majority leader next week, was expected in Las Vegas today.

Daschle was slated to speak at a political fund-raiser this evening for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who will join Daschle on the new Democratic leadership team as majority whip, the No. 2 man in the Senate.

The $1,000-a-head fund-raiser, scheduled 6 p.m. at the Bally Hai Golf Club, is expected to bring in $500,000 for Reid's 2004 re-election campaign.

Reid acknowledged this morning that he's getting an early start on his next race.

"I want to make sure that everyone knows I will have some money," he said.

Gourmet dishes prepared by Wolfgang Puck and other celebrity chefs will be featured at the mix-and-mingle reception, which is expected to attract members of the casino industry and business community.

Daschle's trip to Las Vegas is his first outside of South Dakota since the historic events of last week on Capitol Hill that put him in line to become majority leader.

Reid and Daschle have been credited with persuading Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords to go independent, effectively giving the Democrats a 50-49 majority.

The power shift will occur Tuesday, when Congress reconvenes after its Memorial Day recess.

"We're ready to roll," Reid said.

Having the Democrats in control of the Senate, Reid said, will force President Bush to become more bipartisan in promoting his agenda for the nation.

"He needs us, and we need him," Reid said.

Reid and Daschle, both in their third terms, have been friends since 1982, when they served together in the House.

Reid called Daschle a friend of Nevada and said his appearance at tonight's fund-raiser will be a good opportunity for Nevadans to visit with the most influential man in the Senate.

Daschle was to leave Las Vegas after the fund-raiser for another Democratic event in Los Angeles.

And Reid planned to join the majority leader for yet another fund-raiser in San Francisco on Friday.