Beyond the Dome

There are a number of reasons John McCain probably wishes former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle had paid less attention to him in his 2003 book, “Like No Other Time.”

For one thing, Daschle says his aides had “serious discussions” with McCain’s staff in 2001 about getting him to leave the Republican Party — a story that McCain’s advisers have tried to minimize, saying he listened but never seriously intended to switch sides.

And Daschle writes about the weekend he and his wife, Linda, spent with McCain and his wife, Cindy, at McCain’s home in Arizona that year — at McCain’s invitation. The visit drew attention because it took place shortly after then-Sen. James M. Jeffords of Vermont left the Republican Party to become an independent, handing control of the chamber to the Democrats.

But there’s also a reason Daschle, now a vocal supporter of Barack Obama, may wish he had never written the book. He speaks so highly of McCain, reinforcing almost all of the current talking points McCain’s supporters use now, that Daschle could easily give the nominating speech at the Republican convention this summer. Or, at least, have a starring role in a 30-second ad.

“I admire John tremendously,” Daschle wrote. “He is an independent thinker who is willing to act on the courage of his convictions. He has the political courage to stand up to the leadership of his own party when he disagrees with their positions. He also has been a major factor in many of the legislative victories that we have won, in large measure because of his principles and that courage.”