"Huge," said Bennett, "just huge." Hatch called the upset by Republican John Thune "a real harsh result for Daschle, who is an old friend, but it is good for Republicans. I think it sends a message to the Democrats that says, 'Hey, you guys lost this election because of your obstructionism.' ”

Republicans are assured of at least 54 seats in the 100-member Senate come January, a gain of three from their current 51-49 edge. The Republican incumbent was also leading in Alaska as ballots were being counted, which would make the GOP margin 55-45, five shy of a filibuster-proof Senate.

The likely successor to Daschle as leader of the Democrats' shrinking numbers is Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who has not hidden his displeasure over the Utah lawmakers' 2002 vote in favor of constructing a permanent nuclear waste repository under Yucca Mountain in southern Nevada.

Hatch and Bennett backed the Nevada dump after getting vague assurances from the Bush administration that it would not support temporary nuclear waste storage on the Goshute Reservation in Utah if the Yucca project moved forward.

Reid has used the clout of his current post as minority whip - second-in-command to Daschle - to curb spending on the Yucca Mountain project, with the House and Senate versions of the 2005 budget at an impasse because they vary by hundreds of millions of dollars. The future of the Yucca dump also has been cast into doubt by a federal court ruling that found the Environmental Protection Agency must design the project to meet safety standards for hundreds of thousands of years rather than just 10,000 years, a requirement most lawmakers believe is impossible to meet.

Hatch and Bennett downplay any grudge or potential payback Reid has toward Utah for failing to join Nevada's fight against a waste dump. But staffers for Utah lawmakers on Capitol Hill say the resentment has come up in negotiations over a stalled proposal to allow the annexation of Wendover, Utah, by West Wendover, Nev., and in discussions to create a wilderness area on the Utah Test and Training Range to block rail access to the Goshute site.

"He's a little irritated with the nuclear waste problem, but other than that, Harry and I are really good friends and I believe that will be advantageous to us," said Hatch. "I don't think it's a slam dunk for Harry to be chosen, but I have to think that would benefit Utah because he's from a neighboring state."

Asked what his relationship with Reid is, Bennett replied, "Good." Asked to factor in the Yucca Mountain vote, Bennett said: "Still OK."

"Harry would be a much more effective leader than Daschle," said Bennett. "On our side of the aisle, we trust Harry."

Besides Reid's background with Utah - he went to college in Cedar City and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - the Nevada senator also is friends with the family of Utah governor-elect Jon Huntsman Jr. Although Reid is considered the front runner for the party leadership post, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut may also be a contender. Dodd is married to Utah native Jackie Clegg, who used to work for Sen. Jake Garn of Utah.

"We get along fine with Chris," said Bennett. "There's a rumor that Hillary [Clinton, the New York senator] might come forth also, and I think she would be very foolish if she did. If she wants to be president in 2008, Bob Dole proved you can't do both, but you can never tell."