Daschle In 2000 Race:  17 Months in Senate Adequate Preparation For VP Slot

Yesterday Tom Daschle told Wolf Blitzer that McCain's decision to choose Palin was "inexplicable".

But back in 2000 Daschle had no problem giving the VP nod to John Edwards, who at that time had been a U.S Senator for only 17 months with no other government experience:

MR. RUSSERT: But, Senator, Ronald Reagan was governor for eight years, Bill Clinton governor for eight years, George W.
Bush governor for five years. Mr. Edwards was a trial lawyer, a personal injury lawyer before 17 months in the Senate. Is that
adequate preparation?

SEN. DASCHLE: Well, Tim, I think it's the life experiences you bring to the job. I don't know of anybody that has a broader
array of life experiences than John Edwards. He has been a success story. He has gone through his own personal trials. He has come
to the Senate and, right from the start, taken on leadership roles. He has demonstrated his capacity for leadership in ways that I haven't
seen before. It's really remarkable what he's been able to do in a very short period of time. He's demonstrated to me his capacity to
take on responsibility. He'll do that again should he be the nominee. I have no doubt about that.