Sen. John Thune (R-SD)'s Midwestern strategy in 2016 or 2020?

[Suburbia]

If South Dakota Senator John Thune runs for president in 2016 or 2020, where can he broaden his appeal? Can he play to the Midwest (Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, etc), or does he have no geographical appeal? Is he simply too boring?

[Cubby]

He's a perennial candidate at this point. Every 4 years his name is mentioned but he never does anything. I'd say he's less well known now than circa 2006, when he was still loved for being the guy who defeated Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. It's all been downhill from there.

[moderatevoter]

Kind of what Cubby said. We keep hearing about him, but in reality, I think he's more interested in Senate leadership at this point.

[Adam Griffin]

A guy like Thune makes a guy like O'Malley look like a firecracker. He just doesn't have the personality necessary for someone running these days. On top of that - as was mentioned before - I don't think he wants to run.

He'd probably over-perform in Iowa and maybe Minnesota, but I don't think his Midwestern appeal is the same type of appeal that can grab a completely different series of Midwestern states such as Ohio, Michigan, etc. It'd be like saying that Rick Perry would do well in VA because it's the South.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

A guy like Thune makes a guy like O'Malley look like a firecracker. He just doesn't have the personality necessary for someone running these days. On top of that - as was mentioned before - I don't think he wants to run.

He'd probably over-perform in Iowa and maybe Minnesota, but I don't think his Midwestern appeal is the same type of appeal that can grab a completely different series of Midwestern states such as Ohio, Michigan, etc. It'd be like saying that Rick Perry would do well in VA because it's the South.

While I agree with you on most of this, I disagree that Thune is not charismatic. He has the potential to be-he is very well spoken, presidential in his looks, and has ambition. But that ambition lies in the Senate, not the White House.

[Del Tachi]

Being from South Dakota is not going to help a candidate in suburban Milwaukee or Detroit.

He may boost his numbers in Rapid City.