Jul 2
This proves you have NOT heard everything
By Denise Ross
Either I’m terribly out of sync with the latest political gossip - which is entirely possible - or there has been a major glitch to hit the SoDak matrix.
I offer this from the Swing State Project . I double-checked the date and it is, indeed, current:
LOOKING FORWARD: SENATE 2010 …
… SD - Rounds vs. Herseth (Thune may run for Governor. Rounds and Herseth are both popular and would make this an extremely tight race. Should Thune pass up a run for governorship, then expect this seat to remain in Republican hands. Should it be a Rounds vs. Herseth match then a close race would be on the horizon). Forecast: Safe Rep/Toss Up
Thune may run for governor? Anyone else heard this? I can’t see Thune leaving as a single-term senator, unless it’s to become VP. And then Rounds appoints his replacement anyway. (Hey, here’s a new parlor game to play! Who would Rounds pick? The possibilities are both endless and delicious.)
But I digress. I think it’s more likely that Herseth would run for gov than Thune. I also think a Thune-Herseth Senate match-up is more likely in 2010 than Rounds-Herseth, which is saying Rounds-Herseth exists in the land of unicorns and fairies.
I suppose Thune and Rounds could simply switch places, but any such deal between these two GOP pols is only slightly more likely than cooperation between Bill Janklow and John Thune. The only way it would happen is if Thune really wants to be gov, and history has shown - not so much.
Let’s entertain the idea of a Rounds-Herseth match-up for a moment, though. Herseth would campaign circles around Rounds, who has yet to campaign against an effectively organized and well-funded Democratic opponent. She could get Republican legislators to beat him about the head and shoulders for 8 solid months, just for starters.
While I can’t comprehend a Rounds-Herseth Senate race, all things are possible - especially when it comes to South Dakota politics. So, I guess, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em!
10 Comments so far
Leave a Reply
It seems every two years that the DC delegation floats their name out for Governor. How many have you ever seen jump? None in recent memory. But we’ve seen Thune, Johnson, and Herseth all have their names out there over the years… I suspect they authorize it sometimes, and other times it’s idle speculation and hope by people from their camp. You will notice thought that they rarely come out and squash the rumor. It keeps other wannabes on their heels a little bit.
This is wacky. What is the world coming to. Wouldn’t that be sort of a comedown for Thune - from telling the world about ethanol to telling Jerry Apa about his laptop plans. And what is it you’re implying we should smoke?
I think there are a few options for Senate and the following are just a few possibilities;
1) Steve Kirby — talked about running this year, strong pro-life, able to self-fund a large portion of election battle in two years.
2) Chris Lien — if he has a strong showing against SHS, he could look like a strong contender for this spot.
3) Matt Michels — Good leader and would eliminate one of the backlog of gubernatorial hopefuls.
4) Dusty Johnson — Up-and-comer, worked for Rounds for a period of time
OR
5) Larry Pressler/Ron Schmidt — who could keep the seat warm and wouldn’t run two years later. This would fall in line with the Gov. not wanting to offend anyone, so this would keep it an open seat for two years for open competition.
Oh, Patrick Henry, you are good. Folks, send me more. -Denise
Thune does so many good things for us in the Senate I can’t imagine him wanting to be governor. But, I’ll play for fun.
1) Dusty Johnson has bright future no matter. Ties to Rounds.
2) Chris Lien may show well in this House race and take another shot at it in the future. But, nobody in the east knows who he is & I’m not sure if the governor does or not.
3) Being from Watertown & northeastern South Dakota in general, a good group of us would still like to see Rob Skjonsberg run. He could win in his own right but nobody was stronger in Rounds administration.
4) If he wins in a tight senate race this year, Russ Olson has statewide appeal I think. Same deal, close to Rounds.
5) Bob Gray. President Pro Tem. Good young legislator from Rounds’ home district.
I think any of the five would be at the top of a Rounds list.
Who would Rounds appoint to the final 2 years of Thune’s term in the unlikely event that Thune were chosen for VP and the even more unlikely event that McCain wins?
I would have said Tom Dempster before he went independent. Not anymore. Maybe Matt Michels. Maybe Dennis Daugaard. Maybe T. Denny Sanford (I’m kidding) - but certainly not Steve Kirby. Maybe Bob Gray, but question as to readiness for the big time. Maybe Dusty Johnson. Certainly not Larry Pressler or Ron Schmidt. Chris Nelson? Governor’s brother Jamie Rounds? Former House Speaker Debra Anderson? Kristie Fiegen?
Not many legislators these days carrying water for the Gov, and those who still are, aren’t doing it very well. The smart money on a Thune replacement is against any current legislator and on either Daugaard or Michels.
But Thune won’t be leaving the senate to assume the vice presidency - so it’s all just idle speculation.
Dusty is among the smartest and most sincere folks around. He would do an incredible job in DC — a true conservative, but pragmatic in how he would get those goals accomplished. He would be such a good pick that I can guarantee Rounds won’t do it. When has Gov. Mike ever made a decision where we sat back and went . . . wow . . . that was perfect? Answer: never. Sorry, Dusty.
Rounds would head up a committee just as Dick Cheney did and decide the best replacement for Thune would be….don’t hold your breath…..Mike Rounds. He could give a tearful speech about the awful pain of leaving the laptop program in the lurch and vacating his McMansion by the goose pond and being so far away from the beautiful South Dakota sunsets regularly enhanced by burning forests.
He could have National Guard helicopters and Ellsworth Bombers fly over to memorialize his service as governor and T. Denny Sanford could announce a new Rounds History Rewritten commission if school children will match his donation.
Oh, the spectacle of it. He might have to rehire Pat Powers.
Laughing out loud. -Denise
Goldwater, There was that one decision Rounds made to appoint Keri Weems from Brookings to a vacant house seat in Sioux Falls - perfect!
I voted for Rounds twice. Even gave him a few bucks on both occasions.
I simply can’t believe what a flop he’s become. When the clock struck, oh about January 1, 2008 or somewhere thereabouts he has lost his mind.
It’s one thing to fight with the
Stockgrowers out west, corn growers out east, and legislators across the state but now he’s blowing basic government services like license plate systems. His solution? Much like Phil Graham, ‘quit whining you stupid people. things are fine in MY world. you’ll get through it.’
Well guess what Mike, in my job I can’t afford to stand in your wait line for 3 hours.
Mike Rounds couldn’t win a race for dog catcher. Stephanie would clean his grill and she’d have my vote.
Don’t forget how I ticked off veterans, or pulled money out of a hat for laptops after telling the legislature the hat was empty. I can do whatever I want and you can’t stop me. Watch me as I give my brothers a REDI Fund loan to build their vodka distillery - then convert the loan to a grant! Ahahahahaha! I’m leaving my mansion to take a spin in the AMTRAK plane. Ahahahahaha!