Anyone not running? House draws a crowd (South Dakota)

Sioux Falls Argus Leader ^ | 12/17/2003 | CORRINE OLSON and STEVE YOUNG

[nickcarraway]

At least 11 South Dakota Republicans say they are interested in the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Bill Janklow, now that former congressman John Thune has decided not to run.

In a letter Tuesday to the chairman of the state Republican Party, Thune said he won't run for the House. He will an-nounce after the first of the year what his future plans are. Thune served three terms in the U.S. House before losing a Senate race to Democratic incumbent Tim Johnson last year. Thune has been considering a challenge to Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle in November, but may elect to sit out the election season instead.

[Kuksool]

We must not blow this House race off. The outcome of the special election will provide political momentum for either Thune or Daschle.

[Theodore R.]

Who is expected to be the Republican choice to succeed Janklow? Herseth is probably already picking out her D.C. "digs."

[Pubbie]

There will be two elections next year - one in June to elect someone to complete the remainder of Janklow's term - and the other will be in November to determine who will serve in the next Congress.

So the GOP has two shots at this thing.

[Pubbie]

Nobody knows yet - there are many candidates vying for the nomination.

I guess the State GOP are still weighing their options.

[RFT1]

The GOP needs to nationalise this election, tie Herseth to Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean, make her out to be the ultra liberal that she is, somthing from what I read Jankalow did not do last year. In a state that gave Bush 60% of the vote, the trick is to tie her to the national Democratic party on issues from guns, to abortion to the enviroment, and also remain the SD voters that she will be a member of the minority party, less able to bring home their pork.

[The Great RJ]

While there are many possible GOP candidates none other than former Lt. Governor, Steve Kirby and former Senator Larry Pressler are known statewide. Kirby's shrill mega bucks unsuccessful run for governor two years ago makes him less viable. Pressler while known has been out of state since being defeated in 1998 by Tim Johnson. Forget running a candidate with strong ties to Sioux Falls--their support wanes proportional to the further west on I-90. Sioux Falls legislators and the former president of Citibank's Sioux Falls operations won't get many votes "west river".

Thanks to 20 years of Gov. Janklow's cult of personality and iron fisted rule of the party no real post Janklow leadership or viable GOP candidates for Congress have been allowed to develop.

[anonymous_user]

You nailed it, although I don't know why everyone is running so scared of Herseth. I think a good portion of her votes in 2002 were "not Janklow" votes.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I don't know why everyone is running so scared of Herseth. I think a good portion of her votes in 2002 were "not Janklow" votes."

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You are 100% correct, Herseth was aided by "not Janklow" votes, as well as RAT voter fraud that allowed Johnson to steal the Senate election from Thune, and still managed to lose by 6%. But I don't think too many SD Republican politicians are running scared of Herseth (if they were, would so many be itching to run against her?). It's FReepers who are afraid that Herseth will beat whoever runs for the GOP, replace Daschle in 2010 and serve in the Senate for 40 years.

[puterstuff]

The central committee of the GOP decides. They will hold a vote to see who fills the seat for the remaining time.

[puterstuff]

Senator Diedrich is well liked on the western side of the state. In one of the national newspapers they considered him to be the best candidate. He is from the eastern side and has many followers. He pulled out of the 2002 race when Janklow entered. Diedrich had more contributions than Pressler and most candidates. Most monies came from within South Dakota.