Last updated on 2012.05.30
We generally expect Republican and Democratic party officials to avoid endorsing candidates in the primaries. South Dakota GOP bosses were careful not to speak up for Mitt Romney until his main challengers quit.
SDGOP by-laws Section 3.1.A.51 make Governor Dennis Daugaard a party official on the State Executive Board. Governor Dennis Daugaard is coming to Spearfish next week...
...to endorse Senator Tom Nelson for re-election.
O.K., o.k., the ad on page 7 of Friday's Black Hills Pioneer doesn't say the Governor is actually endorsing Senator Nelson. And it certainly doesn't say that this campaign stop has anything to do Senator Nelson's water-carrying* for House Bill 1234, the Governor's embattled education reform package which faces a likely referendum this fall.
Senator Nelson's campaign calendar says this reception at the offices of Tom Brady and Dick Pluimer, 135 Colorado Blvd., in Spearfish, is "for the GOP Primary, but everyone is welcome." I wonder if that includes Nelson's fellow incumbent campaigner Rep. Fred Romkema, who joined six other Republican House members in changing his mind and voting against HB 1234 at the end of the Legislative session.
I also wonder if that includes bloggers. I better make sure I finish grading those French exams! I love GOP hors d'oeuvres.
*See Nelson on HB 1234:
- Comments at Tea Party forum, Spearfish, 2012.05.15.
- Comments at Lawrence County GOP forum, Spearfish, 2012.04.30.
- Comments at crackerbarrel, Spearfish HS, 2012.02.25.
I'm sure it's open to anyone willing to pay the admission fee.
That photo makes Denny and Tommy look like poster boys for South Dakota's branch of the Log Cabin Republicans.
Daugaard will probably give the same red meat speech he gave in Yankton. Heck, he'll probably just put Nelson's name in where he mentioned Michels.
http://nathanvjohnson.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/daugaard-can-deliver-a-red-meat-speech-praises-matt-michels/
Gee, I wonder if "Prince Denny" will deign to do a "meet and greet" with some of the other GOP primary hopefuls who don't necessarily fancy themselves as one of his "minions" ?