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Mobridge Reporter Liking Ravnsborg

An eager reader directs my attention to an evaluation of the April 12 GOP Senate primary debate by Katie Zerr, the Mobridge journalist who asked questions as a panelist at that event. From her best seat in the house, Zerr said her favorite is... Jason Ravnsborg!

I left the debate thinking Jason Ravnsborg, a lawyer from Yankton, was the most statesmen-like in his answers, answered the questions as they were asked and actually had solutions rather than party-line rhetoric. He thought about the questions and for the most part, answered what was asked. That didn’t happen often during the more than an hour-long event [Katie Zerr, "No Stars Shining During Senate Debate," Mobridge Tribune, 2014.04.16].

That Jason Ravnsborg, the last-minute entrant with no experience, no political history, and no connections other than maybe pals from the USD good-old-boys' club (not to be underestimated!) could get even that much favorable mention surprises me.

But let's try to un-surprise Ravnsborg's minor traction. Push poll be darned, there are a lot of people who think nine-million-dollar frontrunner Marion Michael Rounds stinks. Zerr makes her distaste for Rounds clear:

Mike Rounds is the only candidate for whom I would not have considered casting my vote. I remember the explosion of government during his administration. I remember the 10 percent across the board cuts Gov. Daugaard had to make to clean up the mess in which Rounds left this state. I remember no money for education, plenty of money when it was one of his pet projects.

During the debate, he dodged questions by repeating the mantra “Republicans need to take back the Senate,” over and over again. I don’t remember any of the three journalists asking who needs to control the Senate.

He artfully dodged the questions using words like “South Dakota common sense in Washington” and “we balance our budget here in South Dakota.”

It was a lot of hot air and little substance [Zerr, 2014.04.16].

Zerr is clearly looking for an alternative to Rounds. She finds Stace Nelson gutsy but perhaps too "rough around the edges" for Congress. She finds Larry Rhoden's expressed loathing for President Obama a dull repeat of the ineffective GOP politics of the last six years. So for the rational observer, that leaves Ravnsborg, who cites Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn a lot, doesn't put stickers on animals, and hasn't raised the ire of the GOP establishment.

I can see the logic of Zerr's Ravnsborg fandom. But the fact that he's getting any positive press, that this latecoming novice is being taken seriously by any reporter, may say as much about the unexpected weakness of the frontrunner and the wheel-spinning of his other challengers as it does about any brilliant campaign strategy by Ravnsborg.

5 Comments

  1. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.04.24

    I guess the weakest answer that Ravensburg gave, was the one about the fact that 11 Democrat Senators had petitioned the President to approve Keystone XL. He as well as the other candidates forget that they are talking about Dems who do not live in the area affected by the pipeline. The area of the pipeline is as much of an issue here as the ultimate effects on the environment in the burning of this highly carbon laced fossil fuel.

    It is understandable that Mike Rounds would have no qualms about the Keystone XL. He was fooled by original Keystone pipeline which promised all kinds of property taxes to the school districts and his PUC did not even investigate when TransCanada switched the pipe to a cheaper grade manufactured by Wellspun a company in India. The pipe could stretch and burst under pressure and often did when TransCanada started using it, and they are still using it for the portions of the Keystone XL that have been completed.

  2. Tim 2014.04.24

    The more I read about all of the candidates the more I am convinced Weiland is my guy. I have never voted a straight ticket in my life, always have voted for the person I thought was best suited for the job, but republicans have gone so far to the right I may have no choice.

  3. Lynn G. 2014.04.24

    Lanny that is disturbing with what you mentioned about the original Keystone pipeline that it turned into empty promises regarding providing tax revenue for school districts or however it was sold at the time. Then they substituted to a cheaper grade of piping? The PUC or anyone in state government didn't hold them to what we were sold? I was living out of the state at that time.

    Regarding Ravnsborg I keep wondering why he is running for US Senate and who is this Ken Crow? Is he getting his name out there for a future run for office given what was mentioned in the posting above being late entry in the race, basically no funding, no political history or record?

    Look at all the time and money these candidates put into running for office. When I say money I include lost income also unless your talking about Team Bosworth but that is another well covered subject. Everyone knows when you run for office your a target for public scrutiny and all the negatives that come with it which can be painful at times not only for the candidate but for those that know and care for them. I watched a few of his videos and he's a bright guy but still am curious what is behind all of this.

    DD made a good point in that I feel it is a fair question in asking these candidates if they would accept a political appointment if they lose the election?

  4. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.04.24

    How about a political appointment if they win an election, ala Dusty Johnson. I can't believe no one even introduced a bill to make that illegal. Maybe I am just upset because I voted for him and did not want to see him working for the Governor.

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