By Denise Ross

After Barack Obama did the fierce-urgency-of-now and turn-the-page thing, he segued into a brief bit about Sen. Hillary Clinton. With a very frontrunner attitude, Obama said he’s certain Clinton will help him get elected in November. In so many words:

I know some Democrats are worried the campaign has gone on too long. We’re going to come together because Sen. Clinton is an excellent public servant. She’s run a terrific race.

Whatever differences Sen. Clinton and I may have, they pale inc omparison to what we have with the other side.

And then he was on to bashing John McCain.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

By Denise Ross

Sen. Barack Obama’s Rapid City appearance was a textbook campaign stop, which is an odd thing to report as the consensus among the chattering class is that he’s losing ground in South Dakota - where he once held a commanding lead - due to some strategic blunders by his campaign and some awfully hard and smart work from the Clintons. (More about that later.)

For now, here’s some of what happened Saturday morning, with more to follow later Saturday.  

                 (Photos by David Larson)

Obama delivered some of his signature lines - “the fierce urgency of now,” “Americans are tired of being divided,” “It’s time to turn the page.” (Time to retire that last one, maybe?)

Obama repeated his pledge that he hasn’t and won’t take “a dime” from PACs or “federal” lobbyists.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

By Denise Ross

A friend from Deadwood, to whom I owe more than a few favors, asked that I pick up a few tickets for Barack Obama’s Saturday appearance in Rapid City. Media outlets had reported that office doors would open at 8 am Friday, and people could pick up free tickets.

This was the scene at about 8:40 am, as nobody was home at Obama’s campaign office on Haines Ave.  

(Photos by David Larson)

It looked to me like a few volunteers were on the scene, as one thoughtful young man offered those in line sunscreen, and another encouraged blaming media outlets for reporting a wrong time - but I’ve got the e-mail from the Obama campaign, and it did indeed say that the office doors would open at 8 am.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

Here’s the last batch of photos from Hillary’s visit, featuring local political figures of note. (Stand by for coverage of Obama on Saturday.)  

(Photos by David Larson)

Rapid City Alderman Malcolm Chapman has gained statewide recognition as he repeatedly introduces Sen. Clinton at campaign events, and does a good job.

Longtime Dem about town Curt Pochart takes a call.

Marvin Buehner, a reluctant political figure after working to defeat the 2006 abortion ban, was in the crowd.

A tribal color guard did not take the stage but had presence nonetheless.

The obligatory crowd-watchers.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

 Here are pictures of the crowd that gathered Wednesday evening in Rapid City’s Memorial Park to take in Hillary Clinton’s campaign stop du jour.  

(Photos by David Larson)

 Early-ish crowd.

The line to get through security.

The crowd fills in.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

By Denise Ross

Hillary Clinton’s latest appearance in South Dakota was at Rapid City’s Memorial Park late Wednesday afternoon. (Actually, by the time of this posting, that probably won’t have been her most recent appearance in the state, given her current rate of making campaign appearances.)

Anyway, Mr. Hoghouse was on the scene. Here are some photos he took of Sen. Clinton.

(Photos by David Larson)

Spread the word

Hide Sites

By Denise Ross

Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan is joining the ranks of whistleblowers-long-after-the-play-is-over with his new book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception.

This from CNN:

The White House Wednesday said it was “puzzled” by a former spokesman’s memoir in which he accuses the Bush administration of being mired in propaganda and political spin and at times playing loose with the truth. …

“Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at the White House,” (White House spokeswoman Dana) Perino said. “For those of us who fully supported him, before, during and after he was press secretary, we are puzzled. It is sad. This is not the Scott we knew.”

There’s a growing number of stories about this new book, and I expect we’ll all be hearing a great deal about this for several weeks, especially as Hillary-Obama fatigue expands.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

By Denise Ross

When I was in Sioux Falls recently, I made a point to seek out the campaign office of Republican US Senate candidate Charles Gonyo, a mostly unknown figure in South Dakota politics.

According to his campaign finance report filed with the Federal Elections Commission (go to page 18 for the office rent entries), Gonyo had indeed opened up a campaign office.

Imagine my perplexed state when I arrived at the building pictured below.

This is indeed the 306 W. 36th St. listed on his campaign website.

As I investigated further, I discovered that the “Suite 28″ listed on Gonyo’s website does indeed belong to him.

I did not make contact with Gonyo on this visit. When I spoke with him by phone later, he said he does live in apartment No. 28 in this apartment complex. He also rather forcefully rejected my question about whether he had moved from his residence in Trent.

Spread the word

Hide Sites

By Denise Ross

As South Dakota enters the final week of the presidential primary, the Barack Obama campaign has put out a 30-second ad featuring Tom Daschle.

Here’s the video:

Spread the word

Hide Sites

Or, as Cartman would say, ‘Screw you guys!’ 

From my e-mail box:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary 

For Immediate Release                        May 21, 2008

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

I am returning herewith without my approval H.R. 2419, the “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.”

For a year and a half, I have consistently asked that the Congress pass a good farm bill that I can sign.  Regrettably, the Congress has failed to do so.  At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline.  It continues subsidies for the wealthy and increases farm bill spending by more than $20 billion, while using budget gimmicks to hide much of the increase.  It is inconsistent with our objectives in international trade negotiations, which include securing greater market access for American farmers and ranchers.  It would needlessly expand the size and scope of government.  Americans sent us to Washington to achieve results and be good stewards of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars.  This bill violates that fundamental commitment.

Spread the word

Hide Sites