A Dark Horse for 2012?

The Republican who beat Tom Daschle rises in the Senate—and some think he should run against Obama.

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BY JOHN FUND

Washington

When the freshman Senate class of 2004 was sworn in, its most up-and-coming stars were two basketball aficionados born in 1961. One was Barack Obama. The other was South Dakota's John Thune, who became that year's political giant by narrowly defeating Tom Daschle, the Senate's Democratic leader.

The two men have often joked about playing hoops together, but they've both been busy. Mr. Obama, of course, now lives in the White House. Mr. Thune has also risen, last year becoming head of the Republican Policy Committee, a leadership post that puts him in charge of generating the party's position ...

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