Governor

Earlier this week, Argus Leader political reporter David Kranz reported that South Dakota Democrats needed Ron Volesky to "ruffle Rounds a bit."   Now they've changed their minds.  Today Kranz reports the SD Democrats are saying it will hurt Rounds not to have an opponent this year:

Post-Volesky strategy

It didn’t take some Democrats in the state Capitol long to come up with a strategy for their party after Ron Volesky withdrew from the governor’s race.

Even though it is virtually unprecedented to leave a candidate uncontested, they say it would be Rounds’ worst nightmare to have no one run against him. They offer that he would not be able to get people to contribute to his war chest. He would not be able to point to another huge victory as evidence of his popularity. There would be no victory speeches. The governor simply would declare victory early and go back to governing for another four years.

UPDATE:  A comment at SD War College indicates that some Democrats, despite what Kranz reported, are still considering running against Rounds for Governor:

I haven’t heard this rumor or anything like it. Since Ron dropped out I have been contacted by two different potential candidates who were considering the race. Either would be great. This will be a contested race and I believe it will be closer then the Congressional contest.