First SDSU’s pundit weighed in. Now, USD’s has an even harsher view.
While the AP hit up Bob Burns, the Argus Leader tapped William Anderson, director of the Government Research Bureau at the University of South Dakota for their article on Johnson’s inability to debate. And his view seems even dimmer for Johnson’s prospects.
Anderson says Johnson’s Republican opponent Joel Dykstra “is not going to exploit it personally,” but Johnson’s decision to forego debates “could confirm a lot of South Dakotans concerns about Sen. Johnson’s fitness for the job.”
While Anderson says of the fitness issue “Johnson has taken this on head-on” in his first television campaign ad, “an important part of politics is rhetoric, the ability to engage with citizens and with an opponent.”
Read it here at the Argus Leader.
“an important part of politics is rhetoric, the ability to engage with citizens and with an opponent.”
Indeed.
On this, the Johnson campaign has been measured and has been found wanting.
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Comments
Not that Bill Anderson isn’t a nice guy, but isn’t he the head of the USD College Republicans? Yes, as it turns out, he is. Additionally, Bill Anderson worked for the CIA and the Bush Administration. If there was someone who we could count of to put the Republican spin on things and editorialize, it would be Bill Anderson. Perhaps SDWC could find a more neutral citizen to interview.
“Prior to joining USD’s faculty, Dr. Anderson worked as an analyst in the U.S. Intelligence Community and continues to serve as a consultant with the federal government.”
A more fair and balanced look at my series of quotes about this in the Sioux City Journal,on South Dakota Public Broadcasting, among others, would suggest that I really believe that Senator Johnson’s odds in this election are strong and that I’ve had a chance to talk with the Senator and found him to be quite capable. The question is about perception, however, is critical, especially among fence-sitters in the state who really are using issues such as his health as a critical variable in deciding who to vote for in November.
It’s rather easy to find out about the candidates that individuals like me support. The Argus isn’t the place to do that. Neither is who someone worked for in the past or the present.
Be cautious about reading quotes out of the context of the entire conversation. Good consumers of information should know to go to the source. Just ask me if you have questions.
It should also be noted that Dr. William Anderson is the faculty adviser to the College Republicans at USD.
Fair and balanced, folks. Fair and balanced.