Republicans Hesitant in South Dakota

[Adlai Stevenson]

Sen. Tim Johnson’s (D-SD) "slow but steady recovery from a stroke has done no apparent political damage to his 2008 re-election hopes," reports Roll Call. "But it has hamstrung Republican efforts to recruit a top-tier challenger and put a severe damper on GOP fundraising for what was expected to be one of the marquee races of the 2008 cycle."

"Republicans have been leery of launching even the mildest rhetorical attack against Johnson since he was hospitalized Dec. 13, and they acknowledge that his illness temporarily has frozen any effort to oust him. Meanwhile, Johnson -- with the help of fellow Senate Democrats -- has continued to build his war chest, and in light of a healthy prognosis by doctors, recently reignited his campaign operation."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/03/07/republicans_hesitant_in_south_dakota.html

[JSojourner]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

[Rococo4]

If Johnson gets his health back he will win, I dont doubt that.

If not, I am not sure Daschle would beat Rounds.  It would be a good race.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

[JSojourner]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

Thune barely beat Daschle, didn't he?  And there is such thing as seller's remorse.  After Rounds attempted to outlaw abortion in every instance, even making it more difficult to save the life of the mother, I am not sure South Dakotans would want him bringing such ideas to Washington.

They already have a member of the lunatic fringe up there in Thune.  I'm not sure they would want to send two.  Even South Carolina, Texas and Missisippi have one sane Senator.  Why be like Oklahoma and send two crazed Theocrats to DC?

Like I say, I think Johnson will make a full recovery and beat anyone who challenges him.  If he doesn't, then either Daschle or Herseth will step in. 

Now if Republicans wanted to run Larry Pressler again, THAT would be a GOP blowout.

[Adlai Stevenson]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

Thune barely beat Daschle, didn't he?  And there is such thing as seller's remorse.  After Rounds attempted to outlaw abortion in every instance, even making it more difficult to save the life of the mother, I am not sure South Dakotans would want him bringing such ideas to Washington.

They already have a member of the lunatic fringe up there in Thune.  I'm not sure they would want to send two.  Even South Carolina, Texas and Missisippi have one sane Senator.  Why be like Oklahoma and send two crazed Theocrats to DC?

Like I say, I think Johnson will make a full recovery and beat anyone who challenges him.  If he doesn't, then either Daschle or Herseth will step in. 

Now if Republicans wanted to run Larry Pressler again, THAT would be a GOP blowout.

Really?  Why do you think that?  Johnson beat Pressler very narrowly in 1996.

[Rob]

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

Rounds is more popular than Thune? Uh... no.

[JSojourner]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

Thune barely beat Daschle, didn't he?  And there is such thing as seller's remorse.  After Rounds attempted to outlaw abortion in every instance, even making it more difficult to save the life of the mother, I am not sure South Dakotans would want him bringing such ideas to Washington.

They already have a member of the lunatic fringe up there in Thune.  I'm not sure they would want to send two.  Even South Carolina, Texas and Missisippi have one sane Senator.  Why be like Oklahoma and send two crazed Theocrats to DC?

Like I say, I think Johnson will make a full recovery and beat anyone who challenges him.  If he doesn't, then either Daschle or Herseth will step in. 

Now if Republicans wanted to run Larry Pressler again, THAT would be a GOP blowout.

Really?  Why do you think that?  Johnson beat Pressler very narrowly in 1996.

Yeah, I know.  I think Larry Pressler is a little like Fred Thompson -- the kind of Republican that the party needs to put back in power.  Conservative, but not Theocratic and able to compromise.  They need more Dick Lugars and fewer Tom Coburns.

But you could be right.  Just because it makes sense doesn't mean Republicans will do it.  (And I realize this is a general election we're talking about, but I am pretty sure SD is a Republican majority state.  Of course, so is North Dakota.  And I can't figure out how ND keeps re-electing Democrat to all three Congressional offices!)  maybe that would make another good thread.

[Adlai Stevenson]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

Thune barely beat Daschle, didn't he?  And there is such thing as seller's remorse.  After Rounds attempted to outlaw abortion in every instance, even making it more difficult to save the life of the mother, I am not sure South Dakotans would want him bringing such ideas to Washington.

They already have a member of the lunatic fringe up there in Thune.  I'm not sure they would want to send two.  Even South Carolina, Texas and Missisippi have one sane Senator.  Why be like Oklahoma and send two crazed Theocrats to DC?

Like I say, I think Johnson will make a full recovery and beat anyone who challenges him.  If he doesn't, then either Daschle or Herseth will step in. 

Now if Republicans wanted to run Larry Pressler again, THAT would be a GOP blowout.

Really?  Why do you think that?  Johnson beat Pressler very narrowly in 1996.

Yeah, I know.  I think Larry Pressler is a little like Fred Thompson -- the kind of Republican that the party needs to put back in power.  Conservative, but not Theocratic and able to compromise.  They need more Dick Lugars and fewer Tom Coburns.

But you could be right.  Just because it makes sense doesn't mean Republicans will do it.  (And I realize this is a general election we're talking about, but I am pretty sure SD is a Republican majority state.  Of course, so is North Dakota.  And I can't figure out how ND keeps re-electing Democrat to all three Congressional offices!)  maybe that would make another good thread.

I think both North and South Dakota are conservative yet also non-partisan states.  Every politician is well-known and generally very popular statewide - many voters actually know and meet their politicians personally.  Thus they are willing to vote for and re-elect Democrats by wide margins.  Thune's defeat of Daschle was a rare triumph of wedge issues and partisanship over personal popularity.  I also think for the record that Johnson will win re-election by a very large margin because no credible Republican will challenge him.  He could get +70% of the vote.  South Dakotan sympathy is very much with him.  Rounds is also damaged by the Abortion issue.

[HardRCafé]

This thread has turned into a trip on brown acid.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Republicans could certainly be doing more, without getting nasty or wishing the guy ill.  My guess is, aside from Mike Rounds, there are no candidates who would appeal to South Dakotans over Johnson.

And if Johnson's health should falter, Tom Daschle or Stephanie Herseth could step in and defeat Rounds.  South Dakota is a conservative state, to be sure.  But not Bible-Belt conservative like Indiana and the South.  Even John Thune (a theocrat of the first order) is not the greatest fit with this state.  Larry Pressler -- now there was a South Dakota Republican.

I think even Daschle beats Rounds.  And Johnson certainly does.

If Daschle couldn't beat Thune, then he certainly won't be able to beat the even more popular Rounds.

Thune was far more popular than Rounds. He got 74% in 2000. Rounds got around 62% in 2006, which isn't all that impressive for a Republican. Rounds might've blown it with the abortion ban.

[JSojourner]

This thread has turned into a trip on brown acid.

The more I read your posts, the more I am convinced that you really do know everything.

[bullmoose88]

This thread has turned into a trip on brown acid.

The more I read your posts, the more I am convinced that you really do know everything.

Ahahahaha.

[Adlai Stevenson]

This thread has turned into a trip on brown acid.

The more I read your posts, the more I am convinced that you really do know everything.

Ahahahaha.