Posted on 05/26/2004 5:09:20 AM PDT by crushkerry
strong>The Dem's strategy? Hate-Bush and keep away from Kerry ...
All eyes political turn to South Dakota this weekend for the June 1st special election to replace murderous ex-congressman and ex-governor Bill Janklow. The Democrats have nominated Janklow’s unsuccessful 2002 opponent Stephanie Herseth. The GOP has put up a popular state senator and prominent soy bean farmer Larry Diedrich.
The race is newsworthy on several levels. We’ve done a little analysis:
The Tim Johnson Affair. At a rally for Herseth, Tim Johnson referred to Republicans as the “Taliban wing.” This horribly inappropriate epithet was common among leftists before 9-11 (Christians are no better than woman-hating Moslems, don’t you know). Johnson is the first politician to use the phrase publicly after that horrible day. This small event could be as important to the GOP vote as that disgusting memorial service the Democrats held for dead Socialist Senator Paul Wellstone. In essence, Bush-hating – which has become the Democrat’s default message, strategy, and reason for living – will be on trial on June 1st. If Herseth wins despite Johnson’s hateful comments (which she has declined to denounce), the volume of Bush-hating will escalate on the national level.
Turnout try-out. “It’s all about getting our people out to vote at this point,” a friend of ours at the National Republican Congressional Committee involved in the race told us. “For the Democrats, it’s about getting the Indians drunk enough to vote all day, but not too drunk they pass out and stop voting. For us, it’s convincing regular families to drop what they’re doing in the normal course of their busy lives and vote on June 1st.” Indeed, both parties have deployed massive forces to South Dakota in what could prove to be a harbinger of the November General Election for President. And with a 50/50 electorate nationwide, South Dakota could be the equivalent of the Spanish Civil War; which party has the juice to rule all others?
John Who? The Bush folks have sent numerous surrogates to South Dakota to campaign for Diedrich, even First Lady Laura Bush. Conspicuously absent from South Dakota, however, has been John Kerry. In fact, Democrat Herseth doesn’t even want the liberal Senator from Massachusetts to campaign for her. She laughs at the idea. What does it say about Kerry that he’s not wanted anywhere near the hottest political action in the country?
The role of negative ads. The tone and tenor of 2004 will be set in large part on the results of this special election. Herseth has run perhaps the most repugnant television commercial we have ever seen (and at least one Kerry Crusher produces ads for a living!) The ad, titled “In the Cold” literally depicts old people shivering in the barren South Dakota snow because of the prescription drug plan passed by Congress. We will only point out that the plan spends over $500 billion on a brand new government entitlement program and that hardly leaves anyone “in the cold.” Furthermore, Herseth’s point is that Bush, et al figuratively leaves seniors out in the cold. That is at least debatable. But the Herseth campaign literally stuck old people out in the shivering cold for the purposes of political propaganda. We would have been more comfortable if Herseth had attached a disclaimer to her ad, which read “no seniors have been harmed in the filming of this commercial.” Shameful? Yes. But if voters reward her bad behavior, “In the Cold” will seem as quaint as Finding Nemo compared to what the Kerry campaign and 527’s will produce once they know hate speech is okay.
The Daschle Factor. It is not hyperbolic to suggest Senator Minority Leader Tom Daschle’s political life is at stake on June 1st. He has expended an extraordinary amount of political capital in helping Herseth win. If she pulls it off, Daschle will likely win re-election, despite the strong pro-Bush sentiment in South Dakota. But if she loses, Daschle could very possibly lose his own seat. Daschle is in a tough re-election fight against former Congressman John Thune, and political clout is the liberal Daschle’s chief selling point to a generally conservative South Dakota electorate. If Herseth goes down, Daschle will certainly lose his leadership post in the US Senate.
A lot more is at stake on June 1st than a single Congressional seat in the middle of nowhere.
I'm curious, how is this race shaping up in SD??? Does the Republican stand much of a chance?
Ping
Yes. Herseth started out with a 20+ point lead, which has now been whittled down to single digits. The question is whether the GOP can close the deal. Six days left ....
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and another bttt.
Herseth did a good job early on playing the "Centrist Democrat" and surrounder herself with marginal Republicans. But her rhetoric has become more shrill and the Johnson quote was just stupid.
Diedrich is a popular, if somehwat uninspiring, candidate. He had to get over a "hayseed" perception problem (he's actually quite articulate and bright, but folks thought he was a soy bean hick) which caused his slow start.
Thanks for the ping. This sounds like an interesting race. The low levels that liberals will stoop never cease to amaze me. If one has to stoop that low to win, it's better for us to lose and let them have the country for as long as God can stand them.
FYI
"In the cold" is almost a parody of Democrat ads against Republicans. It's so low.
He must have to look at himself in the mirror and mumble "I am not Al Gore, I am not Al Gore..."
I hope the Johnson remark helps to sink Herseth.
As for as Diedrich being a farmer, just look at Senator Grassley.
All it makes me think of is my mother in law. She is fairly senile and a lifer democrat. It doesn't matter what you say or what the Republicans do they will always be the evil rich to her. I refuse to even discuss politicas with her anymore, it would make more sense talking to a teen.
The race will be very close. The only frustration we see is voluneers to help. I work with the county Rep. Office, and we are hurting for volunteers throughout the state. We have been doing a good job of moving up in the polls, but we still need help.
I have been getting messages that wont say who paid for them, and no number to reach them...when I do call the numbers on my caller ID-one was a business out of canada and the other was a call center.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
COME ON PEOPLE!!!! IT'S A PRETTY STATE!!!!!
We need to pray that Larry wins, and by a landslide!!!!
We need to send Stephillary back to her cronies in Washington with her tail between her legs!
I was stationed at Ellsworth back in the 80's. I like SD. Especially Wall Drug. My jackalope still hangs in the den.
I recommend donations to Thune and Dietrich. South Dakota Dems are on the ropes.
I know the people to contact if you can head to SD for the weekend. Just let me know through www.crushkerry.com and I"ll help folks contact the right people. It'd be great to get a bunch of people up to SD to help Larry.
Do I just need to Register, then post it?
no. No need to register. Just e-mail us through the site.
I dont see a place to "contact" you
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