Verbatim

"I've been in this job for a long time, but this is the worst night I have had." TOM DASCHLE, Senate majority leader, on election night

"I could clearly make the argument that George Bush should have done a lot better last night." TERRY MCAULIFFE, Democratic Party chairman, the next day

"I think candidates win elections because they're good candidates, not because they may happen to have the President as a friend." GEORGE W. BUSH, deflecting credit for the Republicans' success

"They all died because of me." MILDRED MUHAMMAD, ex-wife of sniper suspect John Muhammad, saying that killing others may have been an elaborate plot to kill her

"We never asked for jail time. We were simply asking for Miss Ryder to take responsibility." ANN RUNDLE, deputy D.A. in Beverly Hills, Calif., saying she would not seek a prison sentence for Winona Ryder after her conviction for shoplifting

"Madonna has knocked the importance of talent out of the arena. She's manufactured." JONI MITCHELL, songwriter, talking about the music industry

Sources: Argus Leader; New York Times (2); Washington Post; AP; W