Did the Hansen & Doeden campaigns peak 6 months too early?
Did the Doeden jet stall and run out of gas after his Superbowl party? Doeden social media seems to have dropped off completely since February 9th after posting a few pictures of his free-food fest, and taking a tired jab at Governor Rhoden. Nothing upcoming. It seemed kind of tired until the 9th when they stopped posting completely.
Hansen for Governor isn’t really much better. In fact, they’re worse. Instead of posting any updates on the campaign on Facebook and Twitter, Hansen’s social media reads more like he’s engaging the voters for a campaign for the state legislature. “Hey, we have these crackerbarrels” and “I voted on this bill, and the Governor stinks”. …aaand nothing that actually talks about him having campaign events or running for Governor. Did Pizza Ranch stop taking his calls to book the big room?
We’re in the doldrums of session, and it’s like both of them saw their shadows and crawled back into the burrow to wait out 6 weeks of winter. Is there an active campaign for Governor? You’d wonder looking at those two.
Compared to Governor Rhoden’s campaign, where Governor Rhoden is actually doing events, even though we don’t see much in terms of visible fundraising. And he gets the bully pulpit of being Governor.
And Dusty Johnson’s campaign for Governor effort is starting to apply gas as they kicked off TV on Superbowl Sunday, and now has a second TV Commercial is in rotation. And they’re not coming down. n addition to the mailer that I just posted repeating the message from the first commercial.
At the time the race for Governor is gearing up, it seems as if half the campaigns have slipped a gear, and are waiting on the side of the road for someone to tow them into town.
What are your thoughts?
I think Doeden probably recognizes that the more he speaks, the more people are likely to ask for concrete policy proposals rather than “I’m against x, y, and z, gubmint bad!” He’s remarkably short on substance.
Tobes to us was always known as a slacker. It’s that time of year to just eat, sleep, take a daily dose of horse-dewormer, testosterone (gender affirming care), eat, sleep again and hide out at Doeden’s by the Dump.
I’m at a family gathering. No one knows who’s running for governor or congress.
I expect a lot to change in the next 4 months.
Doeden and Hansen are not serious candidates.
Mr. Doeden looks serious as a heart attack.
Doeden not letting anyone see him may be brilliant strategy on this part.
Rhoden I suppose is pretty busy during session.
The refuse heap’s unruly blaze wanes at last, its fury spent, and the embers yield to a quieter dusk.
I bet they both drop before the primary. Both right after the debates when they can’t keep up with actual statesmen running.
Expect Rhoden to run a Joe Biden 2020 type campaign from the basement. His team is smart enough to keep him away from cameras as much as possible
I agree. Basically a taxpayer-funded campaign. If Ian Fury wasn’t there he wouldn’t have a campaign.
Hmm. Ok. I expect Rhoden to get out once it’s down to just him and Dusty. He’s there to hold the others down.
They’re only 1% point apart (poll from before Rhoden announced). The latest other poll has 81% of SD Republicans approving and 5% disapproving. Not sure anyone would get out with those stats.
Let’s see how it plays out.
Have you looked at his FB page? He’s all over. And with the prison, Smithfield as of today, etc.; he’s obviously been busy. The news airs him all the time also. Not sure what you’re watching that you wouldn’t see any of it.
I follow Doeden’s FB mainly for shits and giggles and I can say he will go 3-4 days without posting so I’m not concerned he’ll drop out yet
What Rhoden lacks in fundraising he certainly makes up for in using taxpayer funded official office staff, equipment, buildings, planes and the sort. I don’t think I’ve seen a speech or interview from Rhoden that isn’t sprinkling in “Strong, Safe and Free” somewhere.
Against my will, put me down as an in-kind contributor to Rhoden for Governor I guess…
The calm before the storm.
The calm before the 5 alarm Doeden Dumpsterfire using the Mark Robinson campaign playbook?
ALL TOO SOON. My thoughts as you asked. It’s always too soon.
This is easy earned media time. Doeden should make trips to the capital, get in front of reporters and comment on legislation. These are the two months of the year in SD that all our local media is focused on bills. He’d get free coverage and he could pretend he cared about policy, any policy at all. He’s self funding good campaign because he’s SO interested. Looks like he’s already getting bored.
*self funding his campaign* NOT *good campaign*
No one knows Hansen west of the river despite his useless photo opportunities at the Hereford school and the Maude’s place. Toby’s Christmas extravaganza in Hill City saw very few locals attend. Most were imported. I recognized 3-4 locals in the photos and they weren’t the pillars of the community. Can you get to the Governor’s office without the West River vote?
When Toby did speak at that event he was tucked away in a corner and did not even get up on the stage. We never saw this as a campaign for Governor. It was to promote the family businesses.
Hansen signs all over east River and a few sprinkled around west River
As the saying goes, ‘signs don’t vote’
“all over?” On the I29 corridor, I think it’s the same 4-5 that have been hanging around for a while in the Dell Rapids area, including one that looks like someone took a shotgun to it.