Herseth’s delay in saying “yes” or “no” kneecapping Democrats in Governor’s race
Kevin Woster at the Rapid City Journal is bemoaning the chances for Democrats in the Gubernatorial contest the longer that Congresswoman Herseth takes to make up her mind:
The GOP has four. The Democrats have none.
Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard of Garretson, state Sen. Dave Knudson of Sioux Falls, Brooking Mayor Scott Munsterman and Buffalo Gap rancher Ken Knuppe officially filed and hit the campaign trail months ago. The perceived front-runners in that race, Daugaard and Knudson, have already raised more than $1.5 million between them.
And they’re just getting up a head of fundraising steam in the money race likely to bring in $2 million to $3 million for the GOP primary alone.
And the Democrats? They’re still waiting for Stephanie.
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin still hasn’t announced whether she will run for re-election to the House or seek the governor’s chair in 2010. A third possibility, challenging Republican U.S. Sen. John Thune, is still mentioned in Democratic circles, but not with much conviction.
The time frame for Herseth Sandlin’s announcement is almost as much a topic of conversation as her ultimate decision. Most insiders suspect it will be another House run, but they also say she is clearly considering the governor’s race.
But since she hasn’t said yet and may not until the end of summer, Democrats with designs on the governor’s race — state Sen. Scott Heidepriem of Sioux Falls, in particular — are frozen in the starting blocks rather than off and running to build campaign organizations and raise money.
and…
When asked if delays by Herseth Sandlin led him to choose the mayor’s race, Huether paused long before answering. Then he said it was important for the Democrats to have a strong candidate in the governor’s campaign, a response that he admitted avoided the question.
When asked again whether he decided to run for mayor because of Herseth Sandlin’s delayed decision on the governor’s race, Huether again paused.
As a Republican, admittedly you’ve got to love it. Herseth Sandlin’s prognostication is going to make it all that much easier for whomever the Republican candidates is (and I have my own thoughts on that), because by the time she makes up her mind and chooses congress as I’d anticipate her to, Heidepreim won’t be able to build up more than a warm simmer, as opposed to anything approaching a head of steam.
Stay tuned.
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Comments
I agree with you, PP, that she’s hurting any Democrat who wants to run for Governor by holding off on her announcement. And that’s too bad. I’d love to get our state government out of conservative hands.
Personally, I think Stephanie should stay in the House since she’s in a pretty good position. Plus, when she eventually leaves her House seat will most likely be filled by some Republican who will frustrate me to no end.
John so you admit Steffi is a liberal???
The Dems have no guts. They should announce their intentions anyway, and force Steffi to quit being selfish.
Ya gotta build the interest before you announce! The longer she waits, the more she’s going for gov.
Fletch
To be honest, I hope she runs for governor. She’s not a sure thing (South Dakotans vote much more conservative at the state level than Federal) and even if she does win, at least there’s a Republican legislature to keep her in check. As our lone rep in DC, there’s no one to smack her down (figuratively) when she goes too far left.
Keeping her powder dry is smart. There will not be a demo primary for gov. Until a demo announces, the repubs and press (essentially one-in-the-same in South Dakota) can only have a circular firing squad as they don’t have a demo foil. (That worked so well for Barnett and Kirby.) The media want a forever campaign in order create real and imagined controversies to sell ads and papers (air time). As a nation we need a six week campaign season as do the civilized nations. Campaigning has nothing to do with good governance – campaigning is the antithesis of good governance.
Be careful on your analysis. If there a democrat Governor they would be in position to start building the party into a machine that could eventually take over the legislature.
Stephanie is going to run for Governor…it is pretty obvious now. All this waiting is to build the suspense! I’ve seen it a hundred times before from others running for office. We are looking at a Herseth-Sandlin Administration in Pierre! She’s got my full support and vote since she is a huge advocate and supporter of our South Dakota veterans.
Stephanie is doing the same thing Thune did in 2004…when he waited until July to announce his run for the Senate…he was building the suspense then and she is building it now.
Stephanie will be following in her Grandfather’s footsteps…First, we had two Mickelsons as Governor…now we may just be looking at 2 Herseths! First, Ralph and now Steph!
Randall,
You BET is is, when it comes to our own Herseth-Sandlin! Never underestimate Stephanie.
Mac –
Like the Mickelson’s winning, maybe we had one Herseth lose for Governor, and Stephanie will give us the matched set.
Herseth will win this…no doubt…the GOP will not be able to defeat her. Stephanie is well liked even out in West River!!
MAC – John Thune announced he was running for the Senate in January of 2004 at the Lincoln County Lincoln Day dinner.
The announcement was viewed as late at the time, but when you have the name ID that John Thune has, you can wait, just like Herseth Sandlin can.
If Stephanie followed the same plan she would wait until next year in January to announce.
I’ll stand by what I said earlier… She’s not a sure thing for Governor. We definitely skew more conservative at the state level. If not, the Rounds/Abbott race in 2002 would have been much closer. Abbott was and is pretty popular while Rounds was a no name at the time. That was a moderate Dem vs. moderate Rep. Rounds beat him handily at 57% – 41%.
At least Stephanie is not a quitter like a certain other woman up in Alaska. Stephanie is a true South Dakotan and we do not quit just because people are “picking on us.” Boo freakin’ hoo. Palin is not Presidential Material and Steph would kick her butt.
Most democrats I ask say she is running for Governor. I think it is wishful thinking but her political carreer is going to get tough to carry water for Barak Obama in DC.
If she runs for Governor she might have to deal with a lot of problems when the stimulous money runs out.
Steph for Governor because she is doer and not a quitter!
Sarah Palin for President in 2012 because when things get tough Sarah Quits!
Interesting comment Mac, personally I suspect SHS may announce her own retirement from politics, rather than run for any office in the next cycle.
She’s started her family, she’s married to a political lobbyist, she can easily begin her own lobbying career when she’s ready.
Her voting record puts her in a more competative race than she’s faced since she faced off against Bill Janklow.
It just won’t surprise me that when she DOES announce her plans, running for office may not be the option she chooses.
Mac — is my screen not working or are you talking to yourself on about every other post above? Do you have a job, and do you need an assistant – it looks like a great gig.
PS Twins are off today – but ready to rock the Yankees tomorrow
Lee, I agree. He needs to get back to work.
Because it amuses me, I’m going to moderate his comments for a while until such time he deserves to be allowed back.
the four amigos better hope she doesn’t get into the govs race