Lt. Governor continues fundraising in his march to 2010.
While people have been listening to Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard at Republican events, the troops in Pierre have recently been making advocacy phone calls for the Pierre fund raiser on September 13th.
As one Pierre resident related to me via e-mail, he recently had a phone call the other day with some helpful suggestions:
Our house received a call from a governor’s office employee who was following up on the July letter sent under the names of Rob Skjonsberg and Paul Bachand. The caller said the “expected amount” of contribution was $1,000.
That July letter, which I don’t have a direct copy of (yet) just a typewritten accounting of the contents, noted the following:
A man of integrity, an honorable public servant, and a devoted husband and father — these are just a few phrases that describe our friend Dennis Daugaard. That is why we are hosting a fundraiser for Dennis on the evening of Thursday, September 13 in the Pierre/Ft. Pierre community. Please save the date and join us.
Dennis is a man with many talents and a big heart. He has served with distinction as our Lieutenant Governor. For six years prior, he represented rural Minnehaha, McCook, and Turner counties in the state Senate. Dennis also serves as the executive director of the Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, an organization that provides shelter, therapy, education, and caring to children who have been abused and neglected. Throughout his life, Dennis has had a strong commitment to helping others.
We know it is early, but we believe it is important for us to join Dennis’s team now and help him as he prepares his campaign for Governor of our great state. We believe you’ll want to join him too.
Within the next couple of weeks, one of the members of our planning committee will be contacting you to confirm your attendance at our get-together. South Dakota is moving forward — let’s continue the progress by helping Dennis Daugaard get his campaign off to a strong start! We look forward to seeing you on September 13th..
Signed, Rob Skjonsberg and Paul E. Bachand.
This September event is not the only one being held for the Lt. Governor. Coming shortly is an event in Watertown for reportedly 50 couples who have committed $1000 each for Dennis in his pursuit of “the big chair” of South Dakota politics. And that’s in addition to the events already held in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. ALSO, there was an event in the past week or so held at regent Harvey Jewett’s place in Aberdeen with about 20 people in attendance.
Coincidentally, the Jewett event for Daugaard was held on one night, with the next serving as the date for an event for GOP Senate hopeful Joel Dykstra.
You have to wonder how many people there are in Aberdeen who can make a significant donation one night, and then turn around and make another the next. I don’t know if this is going to mean that the well is running a little low in places for the 2008 candidates, but it’s food for thought.
The march for dollars in the 2010 race continues on…
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Comments
That is pretty funny about Janklow.
PP keeps posting about Daugaard’s fundraising, but ignoring the persistant rumors I’ve heard about Schoenbeck and Knudson’s efforts (which, admittedly, are quieter).
Someone else posted this on an old thread, and I thought I would copy it in because I think it is appropriate here:
“Sounds like Daugaard is using his time wisely. My only question is what is Daugaard’s message? That he can raise money?
“The model campaign for a South Dakota governor’s race was the one run by George S. Mickelson. He was making speeches in 1983 in the Hills as a serious contender. I found a news article from that year when he spoke to a Lincoln Day Dinner about how putting the focus on economic development spurs more money for state funding education, which lowers the burden on property taxes.
“He used this mantra throughout the 1986 campaign and it became the theme in State of the State addresses, his budget addresses and his winning re-election talking points in 1990. I think you’ll find it prominent in his final State of the State Address.
“In doing so, he demonstrated a vision and understanding of the state’s potential to everyday voters. It also helped his fundraising.
“When you consider who were his primary opponents, Mickelson’s early investment of time and message development formed the backbone to a campaign that prevailed against opponents who were better known and were involved in the news at least every week because of their elected and appointed positions.
“My advice to people running for governor is to start early, develop a core message that connects well with your persona and raise lots of money as fast as possible. And I frequently use the Mickelson campaign strategy as a smart plan for winning the statehouse in South Dakota.
“It ain’t rocket science. It’s best to start sooner rather than later on developing your name ID and simple message with folks. The money will follow.”
Pennies,
Whether you think so or not, I am hearing about their efforts. And from what I can gather, neither are collecting cash for 2010 at this point.
If Knudson is doing anything at this point, I think it’s more GOP senate caucus related, with regards to their recent fund raiser.
Last I spoke with Schoenbeck, I can report he HAS been raising money. Except it’s for some of the church related projects he works on. Otherwise, I think he’s been talking to people in his travels at the grassroots level.
Obviously what Gov. Mickelson did worked. On the other hand, I think the money typically comes before the message. If you have no money, you’re not viable and you can’t get your message out. I think Daugaard has gone about this smartly.
I’m not against the Lt. Governor. I think he’s a good guy, more moderate, and a giving person.
But seriously, is it right that the Gov. Rounds’ staff is working for this guy while they are on the public payroll? Not from a “they should be able to do what they want” standpoint, but from a “how do we know they aren’t doing it on state time” perspective.
Oh, and don’t get me started on the Jewett connection. He’s got his finger in everyone’s pie. And don’t think it doesn’t buy him favors, either.
Anything the Regents want, the Regents get… and that all traces back to Janklow bailing out Jewett’s company, giving Jewett an enormous amount of wealth and setting him up as a someone who could buy politicians for years.
If there’s a reporter that reads this blog at all, there’s a real story behind the scenes with the ties between Janklow, Jewett and the Board of Regents.
It’s a political story with more impact than Sutton, Klaudt and Schuldt combined.
I mean… when was the last time Rounds didn’t bend over backwards for the Regents? Need a Sioux Falls campus? We’ll get you one, overinight almost. More FTE? Take as many as you need. What’s that Harvey? You don’t like competition from Tech schools? Well… I have a veto, we can just use that.
But, hey… we’ll see what happens, I guess. The Regents just asked for a HUGE chunk of money for the Governor. Let’s see how much opposition there is.
Four things come to mind.
Daugarrd, Schoenbeck, Michels and other hopefuls mean we have a strong field for 2010.
In Nonnie Mouse’s second paragraph she wonders the same thing I do. Only because I suspect Herseth used federal payroll to help with defeating State Referred Law Six.
Fundraising priority need to be given to federal 08 candidates. GOP federal candidates will need all the in-state contributions they can spend to offset the advantage of out-of-state special interest money Democrats will spend.
Lincoln Day patron’s know who Lt. Gov. Daugarrd is. With funding raising of this magnitude is he warming up patrons and contributors for an early 09 transition in preparation for a 2010 re-election?
I got a phone call from a staffer.
It was in the evening.
As far I’m aware, they may do whatever they choose in the evenings.
I too, think Daugaard is wise to “sell” himself early. Ha! Seriously, if he can raise money or better yet rely on people to raise his money early – more power to him.
Who cares if governor’s staff people are making call after hours? It’s the same as its always been….
Skjonsberg is Rounds’ long tooth handler. Who’s Bachand?
8.
Bruce, where’s your proof that Herseth somehow used her federal payroll to help defeat the abortion measure?
Of course(!), this will dry up money for those running in 08. I’ve said it before, there ain’t that many $1000 bills laying around.
Bachand is a lobbyist in Pierre isn’t he? This should squash the continual theories that Skjonsberg is running for something in 08. If he were he’d be raising this dough for himself not Daugaard 2010.
Epp, I think you spend more time contributing to PP’s web log than you do to your own or the KELOconsortium.
Bachand is a third tier lobbyist trying to move up to the second tier. It will take more than this effort to get that done.
Anybody know if Stan’s got enough cash left after building his big house on the hill to buy a ticket to this picnic?
11. Epp – Off the top of my head, Herseth’s office sharing with Healthy Families and an audio file featuring Herseth, Planned Parenthood and others discussing a very public defeat of Referred Law Six immediately comes to mind.
In the next several days I’ll email or snail mail a copy of the audio file to PP along with evidence of office sharing if I can quickly find it. You can get those items from him.
I thought I saw the office sharing piece on the blogisphere. I am not sure if PP already has that information.
Paul Bachand is an attorney in Pierre. His government experience includes the attorney general’s office during the Barnett-Long years and a stint with the U.S. Attorney office in Pierre.
Paul is a good lawyer. His firm does do significant contract legal work for the state. That may explain his involvment in the Lt. Gov’s fundraising endeavors.
There’s no way Daugaard’s sucking up all the cash before ‘08. The people who go to these things, as different from the common man’s position as they may be, CAN afford to give $1000 away. Over and over. The comment about “not that many $1000 bills around”…there are. The people who go to these events are not hard up.
Paul Bachand is a good guy, tough lawyer, and some would like to see him as an AG candidate. He comes from good stock by going through the Barnett school of prosecution.
I wonder whether Bill Janklow at Jewett’s place, and if so whether he ate three or more pastries.