Kevin Woster writing on Mount Blogmore:
Robert Novak led his column in today’s RCJ with a brief look at Sen. Tim Johnson’s medical condition and political future.
Novak says “national Democratic Party strategists” think Johnson will be ready for reelection in 2008. But if he can’t or won’t run, those same strategists, Novak says, fear the party will lose his seat.
That’s because they don’t think Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin could win a general election for the Senate seat, Novak says. He lists Gov. Mike Rounds as the likely Republican candidate for the Senate. (Rounds continues a coy non-denial denial about his possible run for the Senate….my words, not Novak’s).
Novak also lists Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and state Sen. Majority Leader Dave Knudson as other possible Senate candidates.
Novak says “South Dakota Republican insiders” (Is that you, Joel????) say they doubt Johnson will be able to run next year.
Personally, I”m not sure on Johnson in 2008, although I tend to think he will run. Despite his docile personality, Johnson is a fierce competitor who loves the duties of the Senate and understands the importance of his seat to his party. I expect his recovery effort to be nothing short of heroic.
But if he doesn’t run, I think Herseth Sandlin would be a better candidate that Novak suggests.
Rounds would be tough to beat, no question. But as she showed in a competitive loss to Bill Janklow and two tough wins over Larry Diedrich prior to her 2006 blow-out of Bruce Whalen, Herseth Sandlin would be formidable, too.
And if the Republican candidate is anyone other than Rounds, I think she’d have to be the favorite.
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