Denise Ross: GOP rally lacked candidates, not spirit

| Friday, October 15, 2004

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The South Dakota Republican campaign rally hosted at the Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper and Cowboy Music/Comedy Show on Oct. 2 made up in spirit what it lacked in candidates.

Republican House candidate Larry Diedrich had to cancel his appearance to attend his father-in-law's funeral, and Senate candidate John Thune and Public Utilities Commission candidate Dusty Johnson had scheduling conflicts.

Despite that, the party faithful were ready to listen to campaign messages from party officials.

In promoting Johnson's PUC bid, state GOP chairman Randy Frederick touted the state's ambitious wind-energy plans and hopes to expand oil and gas exploration.

"South Dakota can become the new OPEC to the United States. We just need the transportation infrastructure to get it done," Frederick said.

On behalf of Diedrich, Mike Derby of Rapid City told the crowd that victory is within reach for the GOP House candidate who lost a June 1 special election to Democrat Stephanie Herseth by fewer than 3,000 votes.

"Some polls out put us closer than we were a month before June 1," Derby said. "The National Republican Congressional Committee has placed the South Dakota race as one of its top three and committed $1.4 million for TV advertising in October and another $200,000 for direct mail."

Pennington County Republican chairman Qusi Al-Haj cited recent polls showing the state's U.S. Senate race close and one that put Thune a few points ahead of Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Al-Haj described it as "agonizing" when, early in the year, Republicans would question Thune's ability to take on the Senate minority leader. With the race as close as it is, Al-Haj proclaimed it "Thune's to lose."

One statement could come back to haunt Al-Haj if Thune wins his race and Democrat John Kerry wins the presidency.

"We want to send a strong message. If you get in the way of the president's agenda, there's a price to pay," he said, referring to Daschle regularly locking horns with the Bush administration.

Campaign trail runs through Indian Country

South Dakota's U.S. Senate candidates continue their efforts to woo American Indian voters in the final weeks of the campaign.

When asked during a Monday conference call with reporters about Indian activist Russell Means' renewed support for Republican John Thune, Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D. did not mention either Means or Thune.

"I've been very, very grateful for the tremendous support from both Native American leadership as well as rank and file on all the reservations. We expect to do quite well there. Early organizational efforts would confirm that," Daschle said. "We can't take it for granted, so I'll be spending more time during the next three weeks on all of the reservations. I'm fighting for every vote."

Thune and other top-tier Republicans attended both the He Sapa Wacipi (Black Hills Pow Wow) in Rapid City this past weekend — where he danced — and a Native American Day ceremony in Sioux Falls on Monday.

‘The Other Side of Tom Daschle'

A booklet was on my desk Monday morning. It's "The Other Side of Tom Daschle," the anti-Daschle piece first reported on more than a year ago. At that time, it was listed as a 96-page expose on Amazon.com with Rob Regier, executive director of the South Dakota Family Policy Council, listed as the author.

Regier disavowed any participation in the book, but publisher Jameson Campaigne of Ottawa, Ill., promised the book would come out one way or another. Now, Milbank attorney Talmage Ekanger is listed as the author.

With no time to spare, the book — still 96 pages — is out with a forward by well-known religious-right activist and 2000 Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer.

"The Senate race in South Dakota this year is second only in terms of importance to that of the presidential election," Bauer writes. "Next to deciding who sits in the Oval Office come January of 2005, the race between Tom Daschle and John Thune is just as critical in deciding the future course our great country will chart into the 21st century."

Bauer's complaints and much of the book center on the disagreements conservatives have with Daschle on domestic issues.

Some chapters cover Daschle's record on abortion, his strained relationship with the Catholic Church, his record on taxes and the ongoing fight over judicial nominations.

The book delves into other issues and takes on the lobbying job of Daschle's wife, Linda Daschle. The book devotes one chapter to the media reports and ethics probe into whether the Daschles had improperly interfered with airplane inspections before the fatal 1994 plane crash of Rapid City-based B&L Aviation.

Books can be ordered for $4.95 per copy by calling 1-800-426-1357.

Contact Denise Ross at 394-8438 or denise.ross@rapidcityjournal.com