Remember in 2004 when Tom Daschle dramatically announced that he would not run for President. Instead, he vowed to focus on leading the minority in the Senate to victory in 2004. We all know what happened instead- Daschle lost his seat to the much taller John Thune and now he works at a Starbucks in South Dakota.

But for real, what would the man who literally rolled over and played dead to George W. Bush after 9-11 and in the lead-up to the Iraq war be doing now?

THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, OF COURSE. Come on, is this a joke…

Leaving aside the plausibility question, is the former maj./min. leader, who heads to IA, NH and MI beginning June 9, a Gingrich-esque book-deal flirter? A Gore-esque monocausual promotion whiz?

Or is he soberly considering a bid for the presidency?

Based on what he’s told his close friends, he’s clenched-jaw serious.

And Daschle’s decision will be guided, in part, on the results of the contested ‘06 primaries that Daschle, unlike most would-be ‘08ers, has waded into.

It is February, 2006 and the 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign is already heating up.

The Des Moines Register ran a piece earlier this week on the potential candidates that will be visiting the state in February.

Who’s coming to town: Former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD), Governor George Pataki (R-NY), Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) and of course, Former Senator John Edwards (D-NC).

It’s gonna be interesting! DoubleSpeak will be in Iowa in the coming months (and years) to bring our audience up-to-date news and stories on the first in the nation caucus.