Thune has a track record of being one of the biggest oinkers in Washington who spends zillions of dollars on pet projects in his own state. He's a big spending conservative and after GWB we don't need any more of them getting a promoting to a Presidential ticket. Thune was one of John McCain's earliest and most euthenisastic backers for President and was instrumental in helping him win those early primaries when the race was still wide open. Thune was one of the infamous "gang of 10" that sought to compromise with the Dems on drilling rights (you might notice when John McCain or Lindsey Graham does this kind of stuff, freepers scream bloody murder, but apparently when Thune does the same thing it doesn't blemish his "true conservative" credentials). Thune was one of the few Senators who argued we continue to be seek to be "bipartisan" with the Dems after they shoved socialized medicine down our throats, placing Thune to the left of many "RINOs" who flat out stated the Dems had poisoned the atmosphere and they wouldn't work with them on pet projects anymore. And if all that weren't enough, Thune joined with the left in their SUCCESSFUL effort in opposing Bolton's confirmation to the UN, forcing Bush to have to recess appoint Bolton by the time he got Thune back on the reservation. And unlike the Dems opposing Bolton because they geninuely disagreed with his world view, Thune lynched a fellow Republican for a completely unrelated pork item he demanded for his state. Gee, what a nice guy.
Need I go on?