Senator Napoli is in the news again.

Did anyone read Dave Kranz's column in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader this morning? The third story down, Dave had this quote from State Senator Bill Napoli:
State Sen. Bill Napoli, R-Rapid City, is encouraging Sen. Eric Bogue, R-Faith, to challenge Rounds in the 2006 primary.

"I think he could give him a tremendous run for his money. He is in a perfect position and has a great Republican following. He would be a tremendous governor. There are a lot of legislators who would like to see that," Napoli said. "The fact that Rounds thinks he is loved by all is not at all a truism."
Bill is certainly his own man, and entitled to his own views. And one of those views is pretty explosive, as demonstrated here. Bill is advocating a serious intra-party challenge for a sitting Republican Governor.

The question he needs to ask himself is that "would he rather have a Republican or a Democrat in the office?"

Don't get me wrong. I'm not someone who is afraid of a primary. They happen at the legislative level all the time. But when you get into the statewide arena, it can be a different deal.

I wrote about this at length in an earlier post. Tim Amdahl challenged at the convention, lost the general. Homer Harding challenged at convention, lost the general. I think there was actually was a Republican Governor who was challenged in a primary many years ago, and it resulted in his loss at the general election (sorry, I'm in Brookings tonight to buy a house and don't have time for serious research). And we all remember what happened after the Abdnor-Janklow primary.

Bill is entitled to his opinions, but I don't believe it makes good political sense to call for such a challenge. All it ends up doing is bolstering the opposition when they might not stand a chance otherwise.

Too many times in recent history, someone has tried to change canoes while we're paddling. And all it does is end up dumping us all in the river.

Oh also, I believe the Governor also has one of the highest positive ratings in history. Keep that in mind as well.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Take it easy, take a breath. Napoli's Bogue fantasy will never become reality. As you note, Rounds' popularity is at about 115% and Rounds' every move is designed to protect that pot o' gold.

Although it would be nice to have a Governor rather than a glorified Mayor. Oh well, maybe in 2010.
Rudy Henderson challenged Frank Farrar in the GOP primary in 1970 and Farrar went on to lose in the general to Dick Kniep.
Anonymous said…
I'm sure that is what Ford's people said about Reagan's challenge in '74, but Reagan is the reason the GOP now has control of both houses of congress and the presidency. Sometimes, the heart, soul and long-term health of the party (movement) is more important than pretending we don't have a problem. I understand your theory, but belive it is short-sighted and ruinous.
Napoli should stop looking to others for a candidate, and start focusing on changing the liberal dynamic in the GOP controlled capitol in Pierre himself. It won't be painless, but it needs to happen.

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