The race between Senate Dem Minority Leader Tom Daschle and former GOP Congressman John Thune is tightening. In February, polls had Daschle ahead 50 to 43 percent, but in a new Zogby poll it’s now 48 to 43 percent – the Rapid City Journal gives the complete survey analysis here. But the worst news for Daschle may be the flip-flop by Lakota Journal publisher Tim Giago, the Indian activist (and self-described “fully recovered Catholic” who attacks the Church for treatment of Indians) who announced on March 25 that he would challenge Daschle in the June 1 Dem primary. But in less than a week he shifted gears, and now says he will instead run as an independent in the November general election. That has Dems fearful that Giago will play the Ralph Nader role, siphoning enough votes from Daschle to elect Thune (who, as Byron York reported on NRO back in 2002 here and here was likely robbed of an election win over Tim Johnson thanks to massive voter fraud). Strap yourself in for is sure to be one of the bumpiest rides of 2004. And you can follow the badness in the Badlands on this interesting Daschle-disliking blog. (See more on the race on NRO here.)