Rick Weiland and Stace Nelson appear to be the hardest-working men in South Dakota's U.S. Senate race. Democrat Weiland is everywhere, racking up his 200th town (Freeman!) and then some in his statewide tour, which he began just three and a half months ago. He's held multiple meetings in Sioux Falls, and he's holding another "Take it back!" town hall on Tuesday:
- What: Cookies, coffee, and conversation about rich special interests hijacking our politics!
- Where: Ronning Branch Library, Sioux Falls
- Date: Tuesday November 12
- Time: 6:00 p.m. CST
Meanwhile, Republican Nelson is working the Veterans Day crowds. After last night's Marine Corps Birthday Ball, candidate Nelson is making the rounds of at four Veterans Day events. Campaign manager Eldon Stahl sends this itinerary:
Sunday, November 10th, 2013:WHAT: Nelson to Keynote the Parkston Veterans Banquet
WHEN: 6-10PM (CT)
WHERE: Pony Creek Steak House, 714 W Maple, ParkstonADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Rep. Nelson will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Veterans Banquet in Parkston.Monday, November 11th, 2013:WHAT: Nelson to Keynote the Ethan High School Veterans Day Program
WHEN: 10 AM (CT)
WHERE: Ethan High School, South 2nd Street, Ethan
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Rep. Nelson will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Veterans Day program in Ethan.Monday, November 11th, 2013:WHAT: Nelson to attend Mitchell Veterans Day Luncheon Program
WHEN: 11 AM (CT)
WHERE: Davison County Fairgrounds, 3200 W. Havens, MitchellADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Rep. Nelson will enjoy lunch and the Veterans’ Day program with fellow Veterans.Monday, November 11th, 2013:WHAT: Nelson to attend Tripp/Delmont Veterans Day Program
WHEN: 2:30PM (CT)
WHERE: Tripp/Delmont School Gymnasium, Tripp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Rep. Nelson will attend the Veterans’ Day program with fellow Veterans.
Not making the rounds: Mike Rounds, who has no events on his Web calendar and whose only media appearances the last couple weeks have been to talk about how the EB-5 visa investor program, whose results have been mixed at best and which is under federal investigation for financial misconduct, is a great idea but most definitely not his idea.
As I noted earlier this week, Weiland and Nelson are both acting like they really want the job. Rounds is acting like he's entitled to it and doesn't have to explain why you should hire him.
And if anyone has some explaining to do right now, it's Marion Michael Rounds.
Update 10:47 CST: The GOP press release wire goes off this morning with an announcement that Rounds will appear with Rhoden and Rounds pal Shantel Krebs at Rep. Rev. Steve Hickey's church in Sioux Falls on Wednesday for a Family Heritage Alliance lunch buffet. The flyer refers to "our candidates" but does not mention Nelson.
Two things. 1) Nelson already addressed Family Heritage and 2) some people actually have work to do and neighbors to help. The others (Rhoden, Bosworth and Rounds) are most definitely out there talking to voters and media outlets. They just don't necessarily tweet or write about every movement three and four times over.
Give some examples TG of Rhoden, Bosworth and Rounds talking to voters or the media.
The only thing I've seen is Bosworth holding a gun and bible.
Rhoden has also previously addressed FHA: https://madvilletimes.com/2013/10/nelson-bosworth-rhoden-share-family-heritage-alliance-stage/
Rounds has attended an FHA event; did he speak as well? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=524457634302633&set=a.521465007935229.1073741826.370185306396534&type=1
Owen - I can only speak specifically as to where Rhoden has been out and in the last several weeks (minus a good couple due to the storm), he's been in Bison, Belle Fourche, Rapid, Hill City with several more this week. He was on the Dave Belfrage radio show last week (so were Nelson and Boz). I don't track day by day but there's a few. I know Rounds was in Sturgis last week, I believe at the Pizza Ranch and Brandon downtown a couple of weeks ago for sure. I certainly don't track his day by day or even week by week but I've heard here and there over the past few weeks of specific towns. Boz - from what I heard from her camp, it's mostly been in Sioux Falls. No specifics for you there but saw a clip of her on KELO just last Thursday, I believe.
As for FHA, I guess I can't speak for them but that's what I heard is the reason Nelson and Bosworth weren't invited. Not sure if the two you link to are similar venues or just different venues where FHA was there. Or, maybe they just don't like Nelson. This is a strong Christian group so that could be the case. I have no idea. Just repeating what was told to me by a pretty credible source.
I guess I haven't seen the other candidates out there-TG. Maybe the media isn't covering them as much of I guess. I haven't seen Rhoden, Bosworth or Rounds in my area. Maybe I'm wrong.
Mostly been very west or very east side. Other than hunts which aren't really campaign related. Radio mostly east and west too. Are you mid-state somewhere? I haven't heard of any of the three in mid-state anywhere either actually.
I'm in Nelson territory. Weiland has been here but none of the other 3.
I think you'll see more in the upcoming weeks; for Rhoden anyway. Not a blast but the storm truly took a toll and priority on everything campaign related obviously. Before that of course were parades and they were at the parades in Wagner, Riverboat in Yankton, Vermillion for USD (in or around south of Mitchell where I think 'Nelson territory' is (I honestly don't know where Fulton is...). Turner Co. Fair and Turner Co. Lincoln/Reagan Day but that's about it and those were 5 or more weeks ago. More to come! Thanks for asking!