Tom Daschle

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy recently emailed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's supporters seeking contributions to help Reid win re-election in 2010 and indicating that Reid is already the target of the GOP in 2010, according to the email obtained by PolitickerMA.com.

Kennedy, a Hyannis Port Democrat, praises Reid in the email, saying he is grateful Reid is the majority leader. Republicans, Kennedy wrote, know Reid is pivotal to the Democrats' agenda and are already looking to unseat him in 2010 as they did to former Majority Leader Tom Daschle in 2004.

"Our GOP opponents understand Harry's role, and they're already looking for ways to undermine his leadership," Kennedy wrote. "He faces reelection in Nevada in 2010, and he's already being targeted for defeat. The next [Federal Election Commission] fundraising report will cover early contributions to 2010 candidates through this December and the GOP will use that report to decide whether they can beat Harry Reid."

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy applauded President-elect Barack Obama's appointment of former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday.

Kennedy, a Hyannis Port Democrat, has made reforming health care to provide universal health insurance among his top priorities in the next Congress, stepping down from his post on the Judiciary Committee to focus on that goal.

"Exceptional challenges call for exceptional leaders, and Tom is an ideal choice to meet the urgent challenge of health reform," Kennedy said in a statement. "His integrity, intelligence, experience and commitment to the American people have won him friends and admirers on both sides of the aisle."

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle is scheduled to headline a Boston fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Boston law offices of Holland and Knight, according to an invitation to the event, which was obtained by PolitickerMA.com Wednesday night.

Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat and former Senate majority leader, is a national co-chair of Obama's campaign.

The event will be composed of a VIP reception from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and another reception from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A $2,500 contribution to the Obama Victory Fund is required for admittance to the VIP reception and a $500 contribution for the main reception.

The third day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday, with a theme of "Securing America's Future."

The day will begin with the nominating process for President, including nominating speeches for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), followed by a roll call vote.

The headline speaker will be vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Featured speakers will include President Bill Clinton (D), U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The full schedule is below.

Top Republican vice presidential prospect and former Gov. Mitt Romney said little of note during his appearance on ABC’s ‘This Week with George Stephanopoulos.’

He and his Democratic counterpart, former U.S. Senate Leader Tom Daschle, discussed the candidates’ reactions to the conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Romney pointed to Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s relationship with regional leaders and understanding of the Russian threat as evidence of his strong leadership abilities. He referred to Russia’s incursion and bombing of its southern neighbor as an “authoritarian event,” and said that Putin “has the ambitions of the Old Soviet Union.” He called for the inclusion of former Soviet satellite states to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Former Gov. Mitt RomneyTomorrow, former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Belmont) will appear on ABC's 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos,' speaking in support of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

He will appear opposite former Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, who is now a co-chair of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) campaign, in discussing the 2008 presidential race.