Roll Call: While Johnson Raises Money, the field starts to form
While Senator Tim Johnson recuperates and raises money, the GOP Field for this fall is starting to flesh out. Roll Call has a big (and judging by my e-mail box), and popular story today on who's who and what they're running for:
Rounds, who was just re-elected in November, is a prime example of how Johnson has forced Republicans to put their political plans on hold. Sources said the governor is not inclined to run for Senate but is particularly less likely to do so if Johnson stands for re-election.Read it all here at rollcall.com. Lots of maybes at the moment (Dykstra, Russell, Knudson), and 1 yes (Sam Kephart). Actually looks like we might have a race next fall, huh?
State Rep. Joel Dykstra’s (R) situation is similar. He recently attended the candidate-training school for prospective House candidates that the National Republican Congressional Committee held in Washington, D.C. But Dykstra said in an interview that he is more interested in running for Senate, although he is waiting to see which Democrat he would be running against before deciding on whether to run at all — and for which seat.
“I’m exploring my options for 2008, and in particular should I run for House or Senate,” Dykstra said.
Former Thune campaign aide Larry Russell is another Republican talked up as a potentially formidable House candidate who is waiting for the Democratic playing field to solidify before making a decision.
Russell finished a close second to then-state Sen. Larry Diedrich (R) in the South Dakota GOP’s 2004 convention to select a nominee to run in a special election to replace former Rep. Bill Janklow (R), who resigned in 2003 after being convicted of vehicular manslaughter.
“If Johnson is unable to run and Herseth Sandlin decides to run for Senate and there becomes an open House seat, I suppose I would probably take a look at it,” Russell said. “I’m getting a lot of encouragement from around the state.”
and...
In addition to Rounds, potential top-tier GOP Senate candidates include Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard; Kelby Krabbenhoft, a possible self-funder who is president and CEO of Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health System; and state Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson. In an interview, Knudson said he also is exploring a gubernatorial run in 2010.
“To some extent you could run for both [Senator and governor], depending on the outcome of the first race,” Knudson said. “I probably fall into the ‘thinking about it’ category in terms of the Senate race.”
Though Democrats and Republicans who follow South Dakota politics are nearly unanimous in their belief that Herseth Sandlin will run for Senate if Johnson retires, her office declined to discuss the possibility. A spokesman for the Congresswoman would say only that she expects Johnson to run for re-election and looks forward to supporting him.
Comments
can Dave Knudson win a republican primary?
Two words when Joel takes on Herseth: Char Harr.
They put people like Whalen up against Herseth, which is probably why they are considering Joel Dykstra is a serious candidate - its someone they can throw to the wolves.
Listen, Dykstra is tall and can regurgitate talking points, but he doesn't have an original thought in his head.
Russell is Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham & Mark Foley all rolled into one.
Neither one of these guys can beat either one of the incumbents and they know it. Neither one of these guys can win a primary, but they're not smart enough to know that.
Most everyone knows that he's not going to be healthy enough to run in '08. Certainly not healthy enough to win.
BUT -- He and the dems are holding everyone hostage, cause it's not PC to say you're running against the sick guy. Not SD nice!
He's just holding the spot for Stephy so the potential republican candidates don't get a chance to build their name recognition.
However, he's gonna blow it if he waits too long. If he announces he's not running now, Stephy will get Dykstra, Russell, et al...
But, if he waits too long, the SD GOP knows that Rounds is the only one with enough name recognition to beat Stephy. They talk Rounds into doing it, and bingo - Stephy loses, and Dykstra ends up with the House seat.
Keep holding us hostage with the sick guy that no one dares speak badly about, and you'll end up with no winners in '08.
Herseth is very beatable, especially since she's seldom in the state anymore and her lib leanings are much more obvious.
Way to score that Global Warming seat, Stephanie! That's so valuable to SD. What's next, the Find Loch Ness Monster Subcommittee!
Yer lyin'.
I don't know about you, but, I'm outta here.
Char Haar was a great person, but unfortunately had an uphill race against Tom Daschle, and made some mistakes.
I can guarantee you she isn't mentally lacking at all. Last time I spoke with her, this former SD Teacher of the year (if I recall correctly) was teaching/lecturing at a University out east after helping to establish a conservative alternative to NEA.
The last time I e-mailed her, I think she was moving to London to be nearer her daughter who moved over there.
They are the ones who are scared and try any tatic to ofend and be negative.
There is always more to the story.
Maybe if you put the bong down and actually kept track of what's going on in Pierre you would know something about Dykstra. Just keep filling your head with anti Republican mush and sleep off your hangover.