What’s the gossip on deck for the 2010 Governor’s race?
My spies reported to me last night that Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard has added a staff person to his campaign effort. As I’m told (via the rumor mill), Joni Johnson will supposedly be working full time.
If this is the Joni I’m thinking of, she’s a Rounds’ cousin who had helped with the currrent Governor’s campaigns in 2002 and 2006.
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Dave Knudson has allegedly been talking to a media company or two on the contest, so consider him still in the hunt, albeit in a much quieter manner than the Lt. Governor.
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Still no word on who is backing Mayor Scott Munsterman’s exploratory efforts for Governor. Not even a peep.
We do know that he’s using the media company “Fresh Produce, Inc.” To my knowledge, this would mark their first foray into a statewide political campaign.
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The “Schoenbeck in ‘10″ facebook group has grown steadily to 223 members. If you want to, click here to join it yourself, and help me hit my target of 300 members by the end of the year.
Speaking of Lee, there still continues to be a strong grassroots interest from many GOP activists (including myself) in seeing him enter the contest.
The biggest piece of scuttlebutt that’s starting to bounce around Sioux Falls is that Miles Beacom (yes, that Miles Beacom) is being rumored to have a lead role in fundraising on Lee’s behalf if Schoenbeck jumps into the fray.
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What about the other potential people interested in the contest?
Matt Michels has been quiet about his interest for many months, and you don’t hear much chatter about Chris Nelson or Gary Hanson who have also expressed interest. Whoever joins the race should be prepared to raise and spend in the neighborhood of $1 million dollars (as a conservative estimate), so such an undertaking is not for the faint-hearted.
That might be why there are so few who are taken seriously for the contest - not everyone has that laying around.
And if they don’t, they’d better get started raising it soon.
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Comments
PP:
I’m not saying that Miles Beacom isn’t helping Lee Schoenbeck but I would be very surprised. I have heard T. Denny Sanford has made it clear to his First Premier folks that Dennis Daugaard is his candidate. Let’s just put that one in the doubtful column until you get confirmation.
Todd Epp
SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net
I think we can assume that any scuttlebutt Pat reports about Lee comes from Lee himself. I have to say I’m just on pins and needles wondering if Lee will decide the run…
PP:
I would just be surprised that T. Denny would let Miles do this unless T. Denny has had a change of heart about Dennis.
Todd
I think Lee S. should just declare himself King of South Dakota
and save himself a lot of time and money.
That’s what I did.
And it’s been working just fine.
If Lee wants the crown now, it’s all his.
I’m ready for a new gig.
Happy Thanksgiving to all SDWC.
Especially to all of you kind souls who put up with me.
Anon 12:16, actually it doesn’t. I heard it on the street.
While I appreciate the comment, you’re assuming a lot. If I get it from candidates, most of the time they don’t want things out, or they embargo it. Do you know how frustrating it is to hear something outstanding, and then have to sit on it?
If I get it from my spies, then I don’t have to have permission.
2010 will be a great year for SD politics. There are going to be a lot of races. Thune is up, will the Dems run someone against him? Who is going to run for the Gov job? Will Sandlin run for Gov, Senate or stay where she is at? Or does she want to go into Sec of Ag office? All the other Statewide races, they will be interesting too. 2 years in the political world is a lllooonnnggg time. I will be watching.
BF please seek medical help, you are not well!
PP, I just saw the new James Bond Movie. How does one apply to be a spy in the PP network? I’ve got the moves just like Bond, but I need a little help catching the pretty girls. Does your spy-network give lessons?
Dusty Johnson is scheming as we speak to make sure nobody but him gets the Republican nomination. Not to give away the strategy, but Lee will probably be arrested for something making him unelectable. Daugaard will probably be caught in a compromising position, making him unelectable. Dave Knudson will probably be exposed as a lottery killing, tax raising, big spender - any of which makes someone unelectable if voters know about and pay attention. Munsterman will probably be ignored by the media, donors and other candidates, which makes him unelectable. Matt Michels will probably be enticed to take another position of some kind (yet to be determined). Anybody who wants in - don’t do it. Let this be a warning to you. You’ll wake up with a horse head in your bed.
2:44 you must be from the group that wants to make dope legal. Dusty Johnson is not scheming. Dennis Duagaard is not going to be caught in any compromising position. Matt Michaels is an awesome guy, but little chance. Lee will get in! Dave Knudson will get in and it will be a four horse race early with it coming down to two. Remember 2 years is like forever in politics.
The bigger question is: Sandlin?
Anonymous 2:44 pm:
Wow, are you wrong. Really, really wrong.
I am not scheming. The gentlemen you mention are friends of mine; they would make good governors, and I wish them only the best. I will not be a candidate for Governor in 2010, and you can take that to the bank.
I’m not sure where you got your very poor intel, but it’s probably from the same people who “guaranteed” that I would run for Congress in 2008. They were wrong then, just as you are wrong now. My value system is not at all like you seem to think it is. Perhaps someday you’ll know me well enough to realize that.
Sincerely,
Dusty
Some people’s ability to recognize satire seems to be impaired a bit. I thought the horse head comment would be a dead giveaway. Of course every satirical comment needs to have a grain of truth in order to be effective satire. There are a few grains there.
Off topic note to Epp: I occasionally go to your site through SDWC. It seems that every time I do that, I’m deluged with pop-ups and page re-directs, even after leaving your site. I have pop-up blocking on my computer, but it doesn’t seem to help and pages keep getting re-directed. It seem like it happens after going to your site. It gets so bad that I have to a system restore to fix. Of course maybe it’s because my posts are usually snarky!!!
2:44– Dusty Johnson is one of the rising stars in the Republican Party and whatever he decides to do with his political career in 2010 he has a great chance of being elected.
If other Republicans would take a play out of Dusty Johnson’s campaign playbook the GOP would win nearly every election. There is no better or harder working candidate then Dusty Johnson.
2010 is going to be an interesting year in South Dakota, but I feel it will be a great year for Republican candidates at every level. Looking at the landscape the GOP will clearly have the most talented “pool” of individuals running for office.
Beacom’s involvement in Lee’s race is just an old tradition of covering one’s bets. You got to know that it ok with Sandford just in case his guy doesn’t win. Sandford also gave 10k to Knudson. Nice to be able to spread it around.
Is that the same Joni Johnson that worked for Phyllis? She seemed good. I didn’t know she’s a Rounds cousin but I guess about a third the state is a Rounds cousin.
Joni Johnson was working for Phyliss and is now currently employed part time with our next Gov. Dennis Daugarrd.
I won’t be running for governor either unless I change my mind or the people draft me.
Sincerely
Schantelle
One of the things I REALLY like about Dusty Johnson is that when he tells you “it’s in the bank”, it is.
While I’m sure Dusty can’t pick me out of a crowd, I first met him at a GOP fundraiser while he worked the crowd with both energy and well thought out positions. He had one of the best “grass roots” campaigns that I’ve personally witnessed & he demonstrated a desire to work for the people like I’ve rarely seen in my lifetime (I’m 56).
Dusty has the potential to achieve the office he desires and he feels he is most “called to”. Actually, Dusty doesn’t really seem to “desire” holding office as much as he is drafted into it. Dusty doesn’t seem (to me) to seek office for personal reasons as much as he is chosen for office by those that know him and view him as a leader.
I’ll admit, I’ve been more favorably impressed by Dusty Johnson that any other politician in his age group. He works hard, he works for South Dakota and he’s demosntrated a maturity unusual for his age. Dusty IS a leader that I hope inspires the next generation to look to as a leader.
Todd:
I have the same problem when going to your site as anonymous 5:23. If Steph. runs she wins period doen”t matter who runs against her. Dusty is the one up and coming Rep that has a future!When the time is right for HIM he will decide…
Old guy, I think a lot of people feel that way about Stephanie.
Strange isn’t it?
She’s kind of like our “dream governor.”
All she has to do is say she wants the job.
Don’t see much of that in SD, especially with female Democrats.
What a hoot.
I think people are underestimating Gary Hanson. In this field of Republican candidates he has the huge advantage of name ID.
Chris Nelson might have a similar advantage but he wasn’t mayor of SF.
Go to the secretary of states website and look at the county by county results. Look at the vote he recieved from Minnehaha, Pennington and other large counties. Then compare them to McCain, Dykstra and Lien.
http://electionresults.sd.gov/applications/st25cers3/
Lots of good candidates to choose from I just think people are overlooking Hanson.
No Secretary of State, Treasurer, or Auditor has ever been elected governor. They are elected statewide but not well known. Chris Nelson wasn’t opposed in 2006, and in 2002 he ran against Kate Looby.
I question Gary Hanson’s name ID at this point too. I suppose everyone knows SOMEONE named Gary Hanson!
If Gary’s not happy at PUC (and I have no reason to believe that he isn’t) I think he should run for SF Mayor again.
I’m saying in the current field Gary Hanson has Name ID. Daugaard - not elected, Schoenbeck elected as state senator. Both great candidates and people!
Gary Hanson is not getting my plug because he is PUC Chairman but because he has been elected so many times in SF and also mayor there twice. Look at the size of the vote he took in Minnehaha. If nothing else he has name id there. Plus two state wide elections.
I’m not backing anyone just saying the positives of a guy I feel is getting left out. Part of that is he hasn’t gotten in the race! Perhaps he won’t but speculation is fun when we include all the possibilities.
Toad:
Good point - Being past Mayor of Soiux Falls is a huge advantage. It will make up for Daugaard’s cash and Schoenbecks early networking. He is a stronger possible candidate than he is getting credit for.
I’m however a Schoenbeck supporter.
I have to rank the top 3 candidates in no particular order
Daugaard
Schoenbeck
Hanson
if Dusty gets in it’s a whole new ball game! Haeder’s on the money with that.
Josh Haeder has hit the mark with his thoughts on the Governors race.
We had Dusty Johnson speak in Aberdeen 3 weeks before the 2008 election and he breathed life into our party! His presence creates enthusiasm wherever he goes.
I remember the first time I met him back in 2004 when he came to Aberdeen and took a bunch of volunteers out to wave signs and a cardboard cuttout of himself on the street corner by M&H. That was really cool for me as a first time volunteer!
The only thing is we have so many good candidates and possible candidates in the SD GOP! Why does everyone want to be Governor?
Outside of election season, SoS is a joke job, too. Filing pistol permits, corporate paperwork, and notary crap. What a boring, no discretion, no challenge job.
But you are right, at least SoS has some significant management role at some point (if rarely). School and Public Lands, Auditor, and Treasurer should be rolled into one job.
Remember Dusty is only 32 years old or something. He can pick his spot. Why run in this crowded field? He could run in 2038 and still be a reasonable age!
Two-man Republican Primary:
Daugaard will have a massive cash advantage. But, can he overcome the inevitable Rounds fatigue? It’d be unheard of for lightning to strike twice, wouldn’t it? Does Daugaard have any influence with the base, after 8 years of Rounds? How much will Rounds weigh on Daugaard over the next 1.5 years?
Schoenbeck will have a great ground game & grassroots network. But, can he overcome the cash disadvantage? Ground game means squat if you can’t get on TV. It takes more than the activists to get you elected. Can Schoenbeck pick up some of his own ‘heavy hitters’ to help seal the deal?
The Truth:
Schoenbeck will not get it done.
Im not sure who you have been talking to do you really think Scheoenbeck has a large grass roots effort?
In my area, he is totally unknown.
Tonnis (The Facts),
If you ever got out of the house, you’d know about Lee’s pretty solid following.
But if I ever marry as far out of my league as you did, I’d be backing my daddy-in-law too.
Daugaard gets in and Tonnis gets to run the Board of Regents. $300,000 salary! bada bing!
Not gonna happen. That’s a fact.
I wish I was Tonnis..ok no I dont but I would like to be as smart as him.lol..I bet Tonnis get a kick out of this…
But seriously he may have a following in NE SD but I am not to sure of anywhere elese.
200 people on facebook is not a solid following.
The facts is right…200 people on face book is not a strong following…
Hell I have 200 friends myself, and I am not running…maybe I should.
(True that/the facts - don’t post and then agree with yourself. That’s just spamming the board, and will get your posts killed. -pp)
I believe the Fresh Produce people did the campaign theme and web design for Jack Billion for Governor in 2006. I thought they came up with a unique look.
Todd Epp
SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net