Argus Reporting that Tim Johnson continues to hire campaign staff
The Argus is reporting today that despite facing months of rehab, Tim Johnson's campaign team is being assembled in the hopes of pressing forward:
This would seem to give the impression that Johnson is going to run again. But, it's still much to long of a time for anyone to confirm it conclusively. But just in case it materializes - putting Jarding in place is a smart move.
The most immediate obstacle is probably going to be fundraising. With Tim momentarily down for the count, I don't think you're going to see much in the way of bringing in the dough for what could be a $5 to 7 million dollar race if the GOP can come up with a heavy hitter.
Lobbyists aren't likely to open their checkbooks unless it's a "for sure" thing - and all reports at the moment put things in a holding pattern.
There's still lots that will develop in this race before it's all over. Stay tuned.
Drey Samuelson, Johnson’s chief of staff, said Wednesday that the office has hired Steve Jarding as deputy chief of staff. He starts in February. Jarding, who will work for the senator’s congressional office in Rapid City, is a veteran political consultant who served as a top strategist for James Webb, the Virginia Democrat who upset Republican Sen. George Allen last November.Read it all here.
Jarding was offered the position by Senator Johnson in early December, prior to Johnson’s December 13 surgery.
“All of us are delighted that Steve is once again coming to work for Tim,” Samuelson said, “He brings a wealth of experience to the job.”
Jarding is a native of South Dakota and worked for Johnson in 1997 and 1998. He helped elect Democrat Mark Warner as governor of Virginia in 2001 and has worked for former Democratic senators Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and Tom Daschle of South Dakota.
Johnson is in fair condition and recovering.
This would seem to give the impression that Johnson is going to run again. But, it's still much to long of a time for anyone to confirm it conclusively. But just in case it materializes - putting Jarding in place is a smart move.
The most immediate obstacle is probably going to be fundraising. With Tim momentarily down for the count, I don't think you're going to see much in the way of bringing in the dough for what could be a $5 to 7 million dollar race if the GOP can come up with a heavy hitter.
Lobbyists aren't likely to open their checkbooks unless it's a "for sure" thing - and all reports at the moment put things in a holding pattern.
There's still lots that will develop in this race before it's all over. Stay tuned.
Comments
"Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who is up for re-election this cycle, has formed a special fundraising account to help Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) raise money for a prospective 2008 bid while recovering from emergency brain surgery.
"Baucus, the newly minted chairman of the powerful Finance Committee, on Tuesday finalized the creation of the Baucus-Johnson Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee that allows Baucus to simultaneously raise money for his re-election as well as Johnson's.
"All funds collected through the committee would be divided equally between the Western state Senators, Baucus' office said."
So here is the money. All this I think is also designed to keep Johnson's seat by making it look like he is planning to run again and will stop any thoughts of appointing someone to his seat, even if there are still questions whether he will recover enough to run.
In the final battle in the movie EL CID, Charlton Heston, dead from his wounds, is tied to his horse with a plank against his back to hold him upright. He’s sent out from the castle at the head of his army in a final assault on the Muslims that have been laying siege. The Muslims fled in terror. Could that possibly work this time and end the Iraq problem?
Really, though, If Mr. Johnson was in ANY other position of responsibility he would have been relieved and replaced so he could recover.
If not, maybe you should reconsider who's playing with a full deck around here, and who's not.
That remark was pure poison.
Despicable.
If you— or anyone else — thinks it was funny, you should get help.
No one is frustrated by the move. It's typical maneuvering by socialists. It is also recognized, however, as with 9:34pm, that had it been a "rep." the national and local socialists would be calling for a resignation...especially if the governor was a dem. with the authority to appoint the replacement.
It is interesting that you use the word "evil" a concept that is questioned and denied by the left-wing intelligentsia. Used when convenient to you, eh??
It is the nature of the "game." to "think ahead" and try to shape (spin) things to come. You show a fine example with your statement, "watch his opponent, for political gain, express his personal concern for Tim's medical condition and worry for him about the stresses of the campaign and term." That's cute, "...for political gain, express his personal concern for Tim's medical condition.." as if it were not an issue.