Vote now in the latest Madville Times poll, wherein we stick the thermometer in the gubernatorial electorate to see who's giving Democrats the fever to replace Dennis Daugaard. Who would make the best Democratic candidate for governor: former state fire chief Joe Lowe from Rapid City or tax lady and state Rep. Sue Wismer from Britton?
Or, with less than a month left for party candidates to file petitions, are you still hoping for a strong latecomer to jump in and light a fire under South Dakota's loyal opposition? You can offer up your write-in candidates in the poll and sing their praises in the comment section below this post. Note: write-ins should be members of the Democratic Party. I'm open to the argument that Dems might want to choose Mike Myers in the general election, but for the moment, let's stick with a discussion of whom we Dems should nominate in the primary.
Cast your vote here in the right sidebar. Poll remains open until Friday breakfast time, when we'll talk about the results. Tell your friends, and vote now!
I voted for Joe Lowe for the Democrat primary poll. Susan Wismer I feel would be an excellent Governor also but the way SD Democratic Party leadership handled her campaign launch totally turned me off. It was like stabbing Lowe in the back and never really giving him the publicly non-biased support he needed as a member of the party running for that office. It is a primary after all or at least we thought. It just seemed wrong.
If Lowe wins the primary and makes it to the general election he will have my support but if he does not I'll go with Mike Meyers in the general election.
I'm now reluctantly registering as a Democrat due to how the Wismer campaign launch was handled and am disappointed in how our elected SD Democratic legislators though scarce seem to live up to the title used before as "Obedient Democrats." lol
It seems I'll be more than likely registering as an Independent in the future.
I look forward to hearing more about Lynn's concerns on Friday morning. Cory, do you have any details on this?
Thanks.
Jessie, I believe Lynn is referring to Rep. Wismer's announcement at the Capitol, at which the Democratic legislators all lined up to be photographed behind Wismer, and immediately after which SDDP Chair Deb Knecht issued a press release that sounded an awful lot like a primary endorsement. Lynn, am I correct?
That's correct Cory. Sorry Rep. Wismer. Posted before fully caffeinated this morning. lol
Please join me by sending both Rep. Wismer and Mr. Lowe some money.
Maybe the Democrats should do what the Republicans did 20 years ago in 1994: take the two and run them on the same ticket after the primary like JANKLOW/HILLARD? Either LOWE/WISMER or WISMER/LOWE based on which one receives the most primary votes. HUH?? AH?? Yep...
G-Man, I'm totally open to a hard-fought primary followed by a happy alliance to crush Daugaard. The question is whether Dave and Maddie are open to it, and whether it would work out better than in Moonlighting.
I didn't vote. I like Lowe, and I know nothing about Wismer. The fact that she's from Britton, and I lived in that neighborhood for 3 years, and that I know Deb Knecht personally, makes me curious about Wismer.
I read the post about her announcement and how that was handled. What else is there?
Nope, I'm not a voter since I've moved to MN. But I'll always care about my home state - Soudakoda. You know, that state just below Nordakoda. (Oldtimers used to pronounce them like that. All one word.)
Okay, the Aberdeen AN had a helpful article. Her website helped out too. Centrist, improve education, end corruption, etc. What differentiates her from Lowe?
I agree with Lynn and Deb as far as how the Wismer announcement was made, but when you stop and think about it, there are so few Dems in the legislature, what difference does it make. They didn't even have enough people to make up a class picture in most of the State's schools.
I guess my vote is ABBDD. Any body but Dennis Daugaard.
I know Brown County is probably the strongest Democratic County in South Dakota. Tom Daschle and Stephanie Herseth hail from there. But, COME ON, the SDDP needs to grow its support in other areas besides always relying on finding candidates from Aberdeen and Brown County.
I've heard a few people say that after spending money and time in a primary that the winner and loser ought to team up as the Gov/Lt. Gov team. I look at it differently. Whoever wins gets to decide for himself/herself who their Lt. Gov. choice will be. That may not be the second place finisher. In fact, one or both candidates may want to identify their Lt. Gov. selection before the primary election.
Rorschach, OK. As Janklow did, I suggest the winner of the primary chose the second place finisher. Just a suggestion. How's that?
Rorschach, hoosing your running mate before the primary is not a good idea. It limits you and it limits the option to unite the 2 opposing forces with in the party.
sorry, *choosing*...
You are mistaken about the 1994 election G-Man. That primary was between Janklow & Walter Dale Miller. After winning the primary, Janklow did not choose incumbent governor Miller as his Lt. Gov. He chose Carole Hillard, who never ran for Governor. You need to look elsewhere to support your theory. How about current VP Hillary Clinton?
No matter what, never hoose your running mate.
Wismer and Lowe should not promise any sort of joint ticket with each other right now. One of them might turn out to be a bad candidate, and neither candidate would want to be saddled early with a weak partner. Voters may make clear they want nothing to do with one of them.
Happy I don't live in South Dakota and have to worry about this anymore. LOL
"Lowe said that Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s refusal to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid was “weak and mean-spirited” and left many South Dakotans without insurance."
http://www.aberdeennews.com/news/local/dem-governor-candidate-promotes-medicaid-expansion/article_cc7121bb-8f29-54d9-bccf-e1cf2ad77521.html
I'm encouraged to see Lowe offer criticism like that. Do you think Lowe is offering any sharper attacks on Daugaard than Heidepriem did in 2010? However Lowe's tenor compares to Heidepriem's, will challenges to Daugaard's record get any more traction this year than they did last election?
Like Larry, I'd like to see more Independents run for these offices. They would have probably better chances than even the Democrats. We just need to find more of them of like Pressler.