Check out the size of the farm bill! An ability to bring home the federal taxpayer bacon, not fealty to a conservative ideology that mirrors their own, is the number one performace criteria Farm Belters use to measure their politicians these days. It stinks, but in farming rich Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Hawaii, California, New York, Florida and Georgia you have 15 Dem Senators and 1 GOP senator.
The Dakotas are farm states with a large senior demographic. That's target rich for big gov Dems. Plus, a senior Senator from a rural, unpopulated state has a powerful message: "A new guy will get overrun by the big state meanies. You need me to compete for the tax booty you deserve."
That's why I was angry with Bush when he signed that Farm Bill into law. It played into the hands of the vulnerable Senate Democrat first term incumbants, up for reelection against strong GOP challengers, who could then move around their states handing out the constituent cash. It rewarded the dishonorable actions of Daschele, Leahy and Jeffords. It was an abomination to taxpayers as well as a set-up for all the guys who have been working to sabotauge his success for the last year. Stupid. But, a farm bill - no matter how grotesque - is going to get the vote of 15 otherwise Conservative GOP Senators from the Plains states and Midwest as well. So any veto would have been overridden easily. It's depressing - that's an $80 billion annyal taxpayer financed incumbant reelection scheme.
John Thune has a distinct answer to the incumbancy of Tim Johnson in this year's race that is a result of South Dakota's small population - the SoDak House Rep seat, like in Montana, Vermont, Delaware and Alaska, is a statewide office. The House guy is as well or better known throughtout the state as is a first term Senator. First term Senators have a high mortality rate during their first re-election bid. If they win that, they're tough to pry out of the office.
Daschele is too entrenched to be removed. Too many enitlement-hungry South Dakotans rely on his "stroke".
Arne, thanks for your lucid insights on the political dynamics of SD. You are so right about the political power of the farming lobby in these states.
Also, glad to hear that John Thune has a good shot at unseating Tim Johnson before he becomes entrenched like Dashcle.