Thune prefers Senate but seeks input on future

Argus Leader ^ | Dec. 14, 2003 | David Kranz

[SoDak]

Disarmingly nice and quite cute in person, but the views, and ambition of Hillary. I've met her more than once. At 31, she has the potential to be in office from this state for eons. She gets mucho grande cash from Emily's list. One of my best friends volunteered on her campaign in 2002, the damned rat. She's a master manipulator.

[SoDak]

Wouldn't you agree that the old guard in the GOP in this state is the damned problem? Those guys, under that Janklow "COP" hounded the younger guys out of leadership. Frederick is a pathetic party leader, and Bill Peterson is a major RINO. I'd support Mel Olsen over him for leader. I think back to a trip to the state fair this year, and after being hounded by smiling teens with Dem stickers, I get to the GOP shack and see 3 people in their 70's looking vainly for a spot in the shade. It was awful.

[SoDak]

me too...hated like the dickens to see what happened with Janklow, loved his terms as governor, but I wonder if it isn't going to mean a resurgence in the GOP.

[SoDak]

I'm not scared of that Herseth.

You might not be, but I am, having witnessed her coming from nowhere in 2002, a total non-starter, to putting a scare in a super-popular governor running for congress. She is very popular with women, who vote at a lot higher levels than men in SD, unfortunately. She will win, unless someone such as Thune or perhaps Barb Everist takes her on.

[Impy]

I think the reason she came fairly close in '02 was that Janklow wasn't all that "super-popular" and people were tired of him.

Oh and I meant to write: I'm not THAT scared of Herseth. I am a little scared but I don't see her as this unstoppable force that only a Thune-caliber candidate can possible beat in Republican South Dakota. If she does win she'll squeek by and have a huge target stapled to her back next November.

[SoDak]

I really, truly wish I shared your optimism. The entire Sioux Falls media has been gushing about her this week. Silly thing is, I'm going to be at a wedding and reception this month in which I'll most likely be at a table with her, due to mutual friends.