Since the campaign for Sioux Falls mayor effectively ended last week with Loetscher attempting to “Jo-splain” her multiple political debacles of the week in a painful presser late Friday afternoon, any thoughts to where the final campaign numbers are going to end up?

Will it be closer than conventional wisdom gives it credit for, and Paul Ten Haken will win it 55% to 45%?  Or as a state politico just e-mailed me, will it be closer to what he’s “guessing” and “she’ll be below 35%.” Ouch.

Or will most of us be fooled because Loetscher plans on  “#Winning?“

Your thoughts?

Haakon County States Attorney Stephanie Trask Endorses Ravnsborg for Attorney General

PHILIP, SD: Haakon County States Attorney Stephanie Trask endorses Attorney General Candidate Jason Ravnsborg.

“Jason has taken the time to stop by and inquire about the challenges that the citizens of Haakon County are facing and has offered advice and solutions” Trask stated

“Jason is the only candidate I have heard actually presenting solutions for addressing and treating the drug epidemic” Trask said. “Beyond Jason’s background as an experienced attorney, he adds leadership and management from overseeing 600 some people as a Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander. I think this lends many skills necessary for the position of Attorney General that I see lacking in the other candidates.”

“I look forward to working with Jason as our next Attorney General; I will be voting for him and I encourage you to do the same.”

Haakon County States Attorney Stephanie Trask resides in Philip, South Dakota. You can learn more about Jason and his campaign at www.jasonforsouthdakota.com

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From my mailbox, Josh Haeder, Candidate for State Treasurer is having a meet & greet event in Pierre on May 8th:

If you’re in town, stop by the Legion Cabin after work!

Republican Congressional candidate Dusty Johnson is going on the air tomorrow with a new ad in both a :30 and :60 second version titled “National Debt”

The ad, which provides Dusty telling the story of what our national debt means to his sons is reminiscent of the national debt ad that his predecessor in Congress, Kristi Noem, found great success with in her election against Stephanie Herseth.

With early voting in progress and less than 45 days to go, things are only going to heat up in the remaining days of the election!

Law Enforcement Stand with Jackley in New Statewide Ad

PIERRE, SD: In a new statewide TV ad launched this week, sheriffs tell South Dakota that Attorney General Marty Jackley is the best choice for governor.

“He’s certainly the only candidate for governor that’s tackled crime head-on,” said Yankton County Sheriff Jim Vlahakis. “That’s why so many in law enforcement are standing with him now—because we know the kind of governor he will be.”

In a growing wave of support from the law enforcement community, Jackley has received endorsements from 62 of 66 county sheriffs across South Dakota.

“I look for someone who’s going to be conservative and has a thumb on the heartbeat of the whole state,” said Butte County Sheriff Fred Lamphere. “He’s cowboy enough to be governor.”

The ad also features Corson County Sheriff Keith Gall and Faulk County Sheriff Kurt Hall.

“I’ve come to know and respect men and women from every county in this state who put on the uniform and protect South Dakota,” Jackley said. “It’s been a privilege to work with them as attorney general, and I will be a tireless advocate for law enforcement as governor.”

Watch the new statewide ad on youtube here or on facebook here.

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From facebook, it looks like Senator Stace Nelson is working hard to win friends and influence people among his fellow caucus members in the Republican State Senate, as he blasts State Senator Gary Cammack in a primary across the state from him:

Just caught this post in my facebook feed.

Apparently Congressional hopeful Neal Tapio is co-branding his campaign alongside President Trump via using both names on highway signs:

What do you think?

Going into the final hours of the campaign, the Paul TenHaken has posted an update for their supporters and followers of the election:

MARTY JACKLEY REPEATEDLY BREAKS CLEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE

Breaking his so-called “clean” campaign pledge, Marty Jackley has repeatedly launched unprovoked, false, and misleading attacks on Kristi Noem.

“It’s become abundantly clear by his actions that Marty Jackley’s pledge was nothing more than a campaign stunt,” said Justin Brasell, Kristi for Governor Campaign Manager. “He attacked Kristi three days after claiming he’d run a clean campaign, and he’s been attacking her ever since.”

Jackley Pledge: “South Dakotans deserve a clean and honest campaign.”
3 DAYS LATER… Jackley attacks Noem for not signing his Clean Campaign Pledge.

Jackley Pledge: “I will conduct a factual and honest campaign.”
JACKLEY ACTIONS, March 24: Jackley falsely accuses Noem of supporting a $1.3 trillion spending bill. Noem voted NO on the bill.

Jackley Pledge: “I will be honest and forthcoming about my own record…”
JACKLEY ACTIONS, March 5: Jackley issues first campaign ad, which claims he created the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. But a June 2004 BIT agency review committee meeting reports: “In July 2002, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) was created under BIT [Bureau of Information and Telecommunications Agency] and then was moved in May 2003 to the Attorney General’s office.” Jackley was not appointed as Attorney General until 2009.

Jackley Pledge: “I will not engage in, permit, fund or condone any negative, misleading or defamatory attacks against my opponent.”
JACKLEY ACTIONS, March 23, 29; April 24: Marty Jackley misleadingly claimed Noem didn’t support South Dakota’s most recent case before the Supreme Court, despite her signing a formal brief supporting South Dakota’s position. Reports from inside the courtroom may help explain Jackley’s reason for going negative, however. Leading tax publication, Tax Notes reports: “Jackley could not keep up with the amount of inquiries directed at him on why the Supreme Court should be the one to settle the issue.”

Just had a friend send this over.. in case you wanted to see some of the campaign material being passed around at the moment:

So many mistakes…. you should NEVER replace part of the name with a graphic element. It makes it difficult to read, much less without dropping a shadow on it.

NAME & OFFICE are the most important thing to be advertising on the piece, yet office is separate from the name and demoted to be just a minor element on the front of the piece. Here’s a name in big letters, but you have to search for office. That’s assuming a lot more interest than people actually have.

There’s lots of minor things I’d do, such as reducing the number of fonts for starters, and cleaning up that mess in the middle of the second page. (What is that? Random internet things?)

But one of the most glaring errors is the fact that there is no disclaimer on this piece. In some cases, leaving that off might violate law. Never do that. I know of no laws or ordinances of South Dakota that dictate font size. Just that it has to be there.

So there you go. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.