Thune almost beat Johnson in 2000 but they came up with a box of votes from a reservation at the last minute and he won by less than 500 votes. It could have resulted in an automatic recount but Thune was too classy for that. One Democrat was found with a voting machine and ballots in her trunk and went to jail. In 2002, they brought in federal election monitors and Thune won. If an election is held properly, a Republican could win that seat.
I question whether if will be capable of speech again given the brain injury and time on the ventilator. I cannot imagine his energy level ever getting up to the demands of a Senate job. However, the Dems care more about THEIR majority than the needs of one state--which should be reason enough for the voters of South Dakota to NEVER VOTE DEMOCRAT AGAIN!
I agree, but the pressure from Reid, Daschle and the rest of that bunch will be intense not to resign.