The other big loser in this election: Senate Minority Leader Daschle Loses Seat.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Sen. Tom Daschle added a dubious distinction to his long political career — he became the first Senate party leader in more than 50 years to be voted out of office. And the White House couldn’t be happier.

The Democrat lost to former Rep. John Thune by just 4,535 votes out of nearly 400,000 cast.

Daschle told a roomful of cheering supporters Wednesday morning that he was “grateful for the extraordinary opportunity” voters have given him over the years. He also looked back on his political career and reounted a time early on when someone mistook him for a paperboy.

“Well, that doesn’t happen anymore,” he said. “I’m a lot more recognized. I’m a lot grayer. I’m a grandfather. … a lot wiser.”

The GOP had targeted Daschle, the Senate minority leader, claiming he had been the chief obstruction to President Bush on such issues as tax cuts, judicial nominees and the war in Iraq.

For example, he angered Republicans and unnerved a few Democrats when, with the nation on the brink of war with Iraq, he said he was “saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we’re now forced to war.”