Posted on 03/30/2004 1:39:12 PM PST by DadOfFive
Edited on 05/07/2004 9:08:26 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Tim Giago now plans to run as an independent for the U.S. Senate, a move expected to change the complexion of a South Dakota race full of national implications.
Giago, of Rapid City, publisher of the Lakota Journal, had planned to challenge Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in the June 1 Democratic Party primary, with the winner to face Republican John Thune in November.
(Excerpt) Read more at argusleader.com ...
Gigalo (American Indian) to Challenge Daschle
Tim Giago now plans to run as an independent for the U.S. Senate, a move expected to change the complexion of a South Dakota race full of national implications.
Giago, of Rapid City, publisher of the Lakota Journal, had planned to challenge Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in the June 1 Democratic Party primary, with the winner to face Republican John Thune in November.
But Giago said switching his effort to the fall gives him more time to get petitions signed and gives him a greater forum for discussion of Native American issues.
"Our issues need to be analyzed, put on the table and discussed," he said.
Giago running in November could alter the result, said Bill Richardson, political science professor at the University of South Dakota. "It could influence the race big-time," he said. "The obvious possibility is that he will take away votes that possibly would have gone to Tom Daschle."
The situation is similar to Ralph Nader running on the Green Party ticket in 2000 presidential race and as an independent in 2004, Richardson said. Nader was blamed for costing Vice President Al Gore the presidency by attracting voters who might have preferred Gore to George W. Bush.
"This is as is the case with Ralph Nader in the presidential contest. The only question is how many and how crucial they will be in a close election," he said.
The significance of Giago's decision "can't be overstated," said Dick Wadhams, Thune's campaign manager.
"This is clearly bad news for Tom Daschle," he said. "Anytime you have an election that appears to be as close as this one - any development like this is huge."
In 2002, Libertarian Kurt Evans ran against Sen. Tim Johnson and Thune, but decided to drop out a few days before the election. His name stayed on the ballot and he received 3,070 votes. Johnson defeated Thune by 528 votes.
Giago could split Native American votes, he said. "Couple that with our strong efforts on the reservation and the fact that the dynamic of the reservation vote is different from the 2002 race and the 2004 race," Wadhams said.
Campaign spokesman Dan Pfeiffer dismisses the suggestion that this could hurt Daschle.
"Senator Daschle wants this campaign to include issues important to the Native American community and Giago's candidacy helps accomplish that," he said. "In his position as minority leader Senator Daschle has been one of the primary voices putting Native American issues on the national agenda."
Giago said he had 2,000 signatures, and believed he needed 3,600 to qualify for the June 1 primary. But Kea Warne, state election supervisor, said 2,000 was more than enough.
"He needs 1,403 to run as a Democrat in the primary, and he will need 3,346 to run in the November election as an independent," she said.
Because it is a new race, Giago must now start over gathering names, she said. He can get signers from Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Giago said the issue is more than signatures on petitions.
"It gives me more time to have fund-raisers, more time to get some television commercials and hopefully the general election will allow me to get on the stage to debate both of them," he said.
Giago will address national issues, but Native American issues will be his priority. The need is clear, he said, citing as evidence a story Gov. George S. Mickelson told about another governor, George T. Mickelson.
"I still remember hearing when George Mickelson was telling about the time he asked his father what his biggest problem was when he was governor," Giago said. "He said the hardest problem was race relations between Indians and whites. George Mickelson found that to still be true in his administration. I ask why after all of these years."
Giago said several differences separate him from Daschle. One is a land mitigation dispute some Native Americans say violates the treaties of 1851 and 1868 between the federal government and the Teton Indian tribes.
Giago also supports the transfer of 1.3 million acres of National Forest Service land for use as the Great Sioux National Park.
"The tribes of the Great Sioux Nation want that," he said. Daschle and Thune are on the other side of that issue, he said.
It is of no concern to Giago if his candidacy hurts Daschle or Thune, he said. "That is the chance you take," Giago said.
He looks to Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell's long-shot bid in his first election as a model of what can be done. "They laughed at him, and I am sure people will chuckle at me," he said.
Yes, but Thune would probably have scored only about 94.6% on their purity meter, so the Libertarians' Higher Purpose was well served.
Famous last words?
But, it really doesn't make sense. Giago may simply be using the threat of a run as leverage to get something from Tommie of the dems.
Giago's threat simply menas that Tommie and the SD dems are going to have to recruit a whole bunch more dead Indians. But, I guess, the threat is a welcome distraction. Who is in line to head sewer control if Tommie leaves?
The next time I met Russell was in Japan, or all places. He had come to promote export opportunities for his people. His demeanor had totally changed from the first time where, as the campus newspaperman covering the story. I actually drove him and Kunstler from the airport to their speaking engagement.
To Russell's credit, I believe he, like Giago, is fed up with the treatment of NA's as wards of the state whose votes are to be purchased with a few taxpayer goodies. Ben Nighthorse Campbell is an excellent role model for these guys-- he is also a former Democrat who moved off the plantation. If Daschle cannot register enough dead Indians in Shannon County, his reelection chances will be hurt, perhaps fatally. Thune would be wise to be civil to Giago, be sure he is included in the debates, and perhaps even encourage him to find someone to compete for South Dakota's lone house seat.
Daschle may try very hard to exclude Giago and ignore him. In 1980, Jimmy Carter tried to do the same to John Anderson. People forget that Reagan insisted Anderson be included in the first debate and an empty chair was set out for Carter. Reagan's magnanimity contrasted sharply with Carter's snobbery and it was the beginning of turning that horse race into a cakewalk.
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