Last updated on 2013.09.05
In its assessment of interesting State Senate races, GOP-machine blog Dakota War College mentions the District 4 Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Tim Begalka and Democrat Rep. Steve Street:
This district has traditionally been a mixed party district at best, being either represented by one or two members of wither party, depending on the way the wind was blowing that election, and Steve Street has had a consistent run as a Democratic State Representative.
Since winning a primary election victory over House Majority Leader Val Rausch, Begalka, identified as a tea-party Republican, has let his passions run hot and has chosen to chastise the people who supported his opponent, as opposed to bringing them into his orbit to solidify his victory.
This might be a mistake, as elections are won by addition, and not subtraction. It's a very winnable race for him, but Begalka needs all hands and all votes on board in this competitive district [Pat Powers, "Top Five South Dakota State Senate Races: Early August Edition," Dakota War College, 2012.07.31].
That's funny: I didn't hear Sen. Begalka chastising "the people who supported his opponent." Begalka's reserved his neener-neeners for only a few individuals, like Governor Dennis Daugaard and Secretary of State Jason Gant, who tried to use their official standing to influence voters in favor of Begalka's primary opponent, Rep. Val Rausch.
It is worth recalling that Powers sold campaign materials to Begalka's opponent while working for Secretary Gant this year. The exaggeration of Sen. Begalka's chastisement of his opponents' supporters sounds like sour grapes.
Good for Begalka! The senate should bring punishment for Gant simply out of respect for Begalka and the electoral process.
PP sounds like the biggest tattle-tale on the playground. "Teacher! Tim said mean things about my friend Val and tripped my friend Jason, and you should make him sit in the corner. And stay after school. Wah."
You will never guess who I pictured as a real life Big Bang Theory Sheldon! Love the show!
Powers is carrying water for the RINO Establishment. He has mean doing it most of his life.
I've notice Powers is more obsessed with Noem on that blog than you Cory! Ha!
All he posts is GOP press releases and videos of Noem.
As usual, Mike, Powers can't find anything original or authentic to say about his Congresswoman, because she doesn't give him anything good to work with.
Young Mr. Gant has probably put all that silliness behind him as he tends to our the people's businesses. Mr. PP is off being a daddy and things so he's probably not in the loop of information like Messrs. Stace and Gant have at their disposal any more. I think all of the above are fixated on Ms. Noem's hair as much as Mr. H is, but in reality what matters is what Mr. Nelson and Mr. Stan bring to bear during the legislatures. Stand up, or shut up, that's what I say to my legislatures. I never heard of Mr. Begalka before this event and I'm sure he's a really nice fellow, but why must you mop on him with PPisms?
PP not in the loop? Baloney. He's totally their primary propaganda outlet.