What's Up Down Home

Commenter Larry, in his own uniquely vulgar way, notes that I was quoted today in the Argus Leader in this story by David Montegomery about the Noem-Varilek race. David was very patient in talking to me yesterday while I lay in a hammock in my backyard with a three-year-old jumping on me. 

I find it interesting that the Noem camp, once again, is nationalizing the race by comparing Varilek to Obama.  I understand that you do this when you are a challenger, but as an incumbent, shouldn't you be running on your record?  Perhaps they will at some future time.  As is hinted at in the article, but didn't quite make publication, I have yet to see a poll in this race.  Someone let me know if they have.  My suspicion, though, is that Varilek is a virtual unknown to a sizable number of South Dakotans, maybe even as much as half, with a significant fund-raising deficit.  For some reason he is not in the OpenSecrets data base, but Montegomery told me he has raised about $300,000 as of the last report.  Well, according to OpenSecrets, at last report Noem had $1.2 million cash on hand.  This funding level and discrepancy will not cut it for Varilek.  Varilek will have to spend what little money he has just getting people to know who he is even before he starts convincing them that he is worth electing.

On an unrelated note, have folks been following the foibles of Secretary of State Jason Gant?  Jon Ellis and Bob Mercer have.  I thought it was unwise for Gant to endorse in the Begalka v. Rausch primary, and said so in a KSFY interview, and one wonders why he let Pat Powers run a campaign business while working for the chief election officer of the state.  Bad form, sir.  We all know that the Secretary of State office is elected as a partisan office, but as the chief election officer of the state, the Secretary of State has a special duty to remain above the political fray as much as possible. As Ellis notes, Gant is not up for reelection for two years, but does anyone doubt he will now pick up a Republican challenger?  Chris Nelson, where are you? (Yes, I know, on the PUC). 

Comments

[I'm not a talker...]

Kristi comes off as an attack dog. Hardcore Republican activists like that - regular voters do not. She did it against Stephanie and I doubt she would have had to be so aggressive. She was polling ahead of SHS for most of the campaign. Then it went very negative and the race became closer. Kristi has never presented her own vision. She needs to start doing this - not just being anti Democrat/herseth/pelosi/obama/varilek. - Until Obama goes away it is probably more than enough for her to continue winning.

Varilek has 0 shot.

The reason I believe Kristi needs to start producing her vision for this country and not just being anti Democrat or negative is because she might want to run for the US Senate in '14. Her image right now to most voters outside of the base is that she's negative or an attack dog. Rounds' image is the nice guy who is well liked across the spectrum.

It will be much easier for Rounds to go from nice guy to attack dog than Noem from attack dog to nice lady. She needs to start presenting her vision now and broadening her image before she has a tough race.

Rounds is already running insurance ads on tv as the nice guy.

[Kody K]

Ken, I would have to agree with you on the first part. Every politically savy person in South Dakota - a bakers dozen - will know of Matt Varilek. He is definitely getting around the state in a variety of parades and campaigning efforts, but I just do not think that it is going to be enough. Noem has such a distinguished name recognition behind her. Especially now since she has been recently named sexiest congresswoman!

As far as the Secretary of State situation goes, I see the second issue a bigger problem than the first. While he should be partisan, there is nothing that explicitly forbids the endorsement of a candidate. If anything, bad PR.

Now letting Powers run a campaign business? Not much I can say in defense of Secretary Gant there. I guess we will see how this whole situation plays out.

[Kody K]

JDS* my bad