Departing Ashcroft looks back

Senator Ashcroft leaves the Senate today as Jean Carnahan takes the oath of office to take his place. Ashcroft recently looked back on the election in an interview with the Missourinet. Ashcroft says he takes satisfaction in guiding anti-meth legislation through Congress as well as stopping the food and medicine embargoes to so-called rogue countries such as Cuba. Ashcroft believes he would have won re-election had tragedy not struck. He points to public opinion polls that showed him up in his race against Mel Carnahan before the fatal plane crash. Carnahan surged ahead in the polls afterward. Ashcroft narrowed the lead, but couldn’t overtake him.