With the Bush administration retaining its hold on the White House, speculation is starting over when the energy bill will get back on the table. A second Bush term has environmental groups poised for battle and industry organizations taking a wait-and-see attitude. As in any election, there are victories and defeats, and the 2004 races were no different. Republican John Thune won the South Dakota seat formerly occupied by Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. A loss for the Democrats could turn into a victory for the mining industry in the form of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. After Daschle's defeat, Reid, the assistant Democratic leader, announced his intention to seek the Senate minority leader position. This is a good sign for the National Mining Association; the industry group sees it as an excellent way to get mining issues back on the table. "From a bipartisan perspective, the fact that Harry Reid could take Daschle's place reassures the NMA. He (Reid) understands mining. Nevada is a mining state; just look at the way Elko County voted, the majority of them went for the president. Reid occupying that seat would reassure many in the industry," said NMA spokesman Luke Popovich.
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