SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Our earlier posting on Quick Takes – Political Landscape suggested many thoughts but few opinions, that has not changed very much. While I previously stated there has been a seismic shift in South Dakota politics what has changed post HB1215 is the intensity of the political environment.

Armies of new political activists are engaged. While pro life forces have been energized increasingly in the past few elections, now more moderate, Exceptionistas, and pro choice soldiers are coming to the electoral battle. Showing up at the public rallies are hundreds of new faces that have not previously been involved in the political process. The battle is growing beyond the Statewide Referendum on HB1215 being circulated by the South Dakota Campaign For Healthy Families and spilling over to Legislative elections and the Governor’s election. Will the Constitutional offices be far behind?

In addition to the a coalition of Exceptionistas and Pro Choice groups

Political scuttlebutt has new candidates all over the place coming forth to challenge incumbents. We are seeing party switchers (in this case GOP to Dem), old faces, and new faces, running as Republicans and Democrats for many legislative positions to oppose incumbents.

The Democrat party of course is the prime beneficiary of this increased activity. The Democrat sharks smell blood in the water. To wit - renewed interest in candidates to face Mike Rounds and the appearance of some old Dem War Horses who want to taste Victory again.

Increased participation has come from the backlash to HB1215 not anything the party organization has done. The State Dems have been lackluster and haven’t done anything to deserve the increase in activity they are experiencing. While HB1215 is not a partisan bill, the GOP seems to have been tagged as responsible while the many Dems that supported it are not getting much blame. As a sidebar his vote has tarnished Senator Dan Sutton’s prospects for higher office.

There is a groundswell that is coming without too much organization. Certainly Steve Hildebrand has his fingerprints on the increase in political activity and some other old names are getting into the act as well. We hear the names Cathy Piersol and Jeff Masten mentioned frequently. Reports are of Dem organizational meetings with unusually large numbers in attendance and names of candidates. Beyond the old regulars we are seeing just citizens who are mad, unhappy, outraged or whatever who are getting involved.

Let’s Make A Deal – Political scuttlebutt is that Jack Billion and Dennis Wiese made a deal recently at the State Dem McGovern Day Dinner in Aberdeen. It’s rumored the deal was struck that they would focus their respective Gubernatorial campaigns in tandem attacking and criticizing Mike Rounds and praising each other. They would conserve resources and use earned media to just keep up the attack and negative campaign against the Governor. They further agreed that whichever of them won the primary; the winner would select the other as his Lieutenant Governor running mate.

Because there are many more players and an intensely personal issue on the ballot 2006 is heating up. What we thought of a month ago would be a ho hum election is turning into what might be a scorched battleground.

Sidebar - These elections and how they are handled will be a big test if the Republican Party can continue to be the “Big Tent Party” in South Dakota. Historically the Democrats have been the extremists. Consider their refusal to allow Pro Life speakers at their National Conventions (Governor Casey of Pennsylvania 1992) while Republicans have been inclusive allowing Pro Choice speakers (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rudi Giuliani 2004).