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Alas Thune is the ONLY viable Republican candidate in this state for either Congressman Janklow's now vacant House seat or to challenge Daschle for the Senate.

As Governor for most of 20 years, Janklow, ran the party with an iron fist. Thune avoided the internal party squabbling and emerged as a good candidate for then Congressman Tim Johnson's seat, winning the election over a weak Democratic candidate and was elected to the House. However, the party under Janklow's cult of personality did not seek to develop new leaders--for example Daschle's Republican challenger in 1998 had never held any elective office and was a political unknown with no experience in campaigning and no serious support from the party.

As a result with the political demise of Janklow there is simply no one other than John Thune who has any statewide recognition, leadership experence or campaign skill. Thune faces an uphill battle in challenging Daschle and with no serious contenders for the House seat I am afraid Janklow's final legacy to the state will be a Democrat sweep of our Congressional delegation.

There is another factor in Thune's career. Janklow opposed him in the 1996 Republican primary for Congress. He instead supported Carole Hilliard, his loyal Lieutenant Governor. But Thune beat her by 59% to 41%, then won the general by 60% to 37%.

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.