Thune not running to fill Janklow's House seat

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/7505544.htm ^ | Tue, Dec. 16, 2003 | Carson Walker, AP

[anonymous_user]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Republican John Thune will not be a candidate for the U.S. House seat left open by Rep. Bill Janklow, a spokesman said Tuesday.

However, Thune will wait until after the first of the year to decide whether to challenge Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle, political aide Ryan Nelson said.

Thune outlined his plan in a letter to Randy Frederick, the chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.

Frederick praised Thune for allowing other candidates to step forward and run.

"We are elated with John's quick, decisive actions, his not leaving the party in the lurch. He's helping us out by making his wishes known so quickly and it helps with the candidates also. His decisive actions are benefiting the state," Frederick said.

"It appears he is not letting Washington, D.C., dictate to him what's best for South Dakota."

Dan Pfeiffer, Daschle's press secretary, said Daschle has prepared for the 2004 election more intensely than other campaigns.

"He has put together the best funded, best organized campaign that he has ever had and is prepared for any opponent that may come," said Pfeiffer.

Thune had said he would decide whether to run for the Senate around the end of the year. After Janklow's announced resignation, he said he would let the party know whether he intended to run for his old job again. Thune served three terms in Congress and lost to incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson last year by 524 votes.

[anonymous_user]

Good news? Bad news? No news? Your comments are welcome.

[William McKinley]

Good news.

[martin_fierro]

	FReeper Motorcycle Hooligan
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[So Cal Rocket]

Good news... he's going to run against Deeply Saddened Tom Daschle.

[anonymous_user]

That's my opinion too. He'd easily beat Herseth (IMHO) but it's going to be a tough road to beat Daschle, if he decides to take that path.

I also appreciate that he "got out of the way" in this race so other Republican candidates can come forward and make plans.

[The_Victor]

TDIDS

[Huck]

Thune voted for Campaign Finance Reform. He can go to hell.

[TheBigB]

Both. Herseth is almost certain to pick up the House seat.

[arkfreepdom]

You have to admire this guys guts. He is giving up a sure thing and may run against dasshole. He probably feels like he owes little tom a whipping.

[anonymous_user]

TDDID? I don't get it.

(Tom Daschle, Done in December?)

[anonymous_user]

Thune voted for Campaign Finance Reform. He can go to hell.

Bush signed it. So, you're going to vote for Dean? The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend.

[The_Victor]

TDIDS (Tom Dashole is deeply saddened)

[zbigreddogz]

Yah. I'm really sick of people who demand 100% on everything. If it wern't for the so called 'purist', Harry Reid wouldn't be in the senate anymore, neither would Maria Cantwell or Tim Johnson. Seems to me that they are just Rats with a holier-then-thou complex.

[AZPubbie]

Since Thune's got a spokesman, he's decided to run for something. He'll challenge Daschle. Bank on it.

[Aeronaut]

He'll challenge Daschle. Bank on it.

I think that is good. He is the most recognizable name to a neighbor, (MN), and D'Aschole should be vulnerable.

[Huck]

Bush signed it. So, you're going to vote for Dean? The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend.

Bush is--for all intents and purposes--the nominee for the party. So I am pretty much stuck with him unless I want to vote for a Dimocrat. Thune is not the nominee. Now is the perfect time to let him know he's an a-hole.

President Bush is also prosecuting a war which I support, and so, as much as I would love to make him pay for his ill-advised signings, I am not able to do it. I would gladly and gleefully work to get Thune OUT of GOP politics though, and replace him with someone half decent. I know SD is not a populous state, but you don't have ANY GOPers who oppose peeing on the 1st amendment?

[Huck]

Yah. I'm really sick of people who demand 100% on everything. If it wern't for the so called 'purist', Harry Reid wouldn't be in the senate anymore, neither would Maria Cantwell or Tim Johnson. Seems to me that they are just Rats with a holier-then-thou complex.

OK genius. At what point do we hold elected officials accountable for their votes? CFR is an abomination. We are regrettably stuck with it for now, in part because our President was idiotic enough to sign it. We need the President though. But do we need Thune? Can SD do no better? Is that what we're fighting for now? GOPers who piss on the constitution?

[anonymous_user]

Conventional wisdom is that Thune has the best chance (if any) of beating Daschle. There will be primaries, but there just aren't that many high-profile, experienced Republicans in a state of 600,000 willing to throw themselves at the Daschle Money Machine.

[Pubbie]

The *Ping* of Pings *Ping*!

Uber *Ping*!

[So Cal Rocket]

Thune voted for Campaign Finance Reform. He can go to hell.

How did Daschle vote?