He's in.

Sen. Tim Johnson confirmed Friday the campaign plans he has implied for weeks, announcing a 2008 reelection drive that will proceed despite the physical challenges left from a brain hemorrhage and emergency surgery last December.

In a solicitation e-mail to supporters and a news release from his campaign office, the South Dakota Democrat said he is now fully convinced that he can handle the multiple challenges of serving in the U.S. Senate.

"After months of rehabilitation and recovery, more than a month on the job in Washington and after my recent trips back to South Dakota, it is clear to my family, my doctors and me that I am able to do the hard work required of a United States senator," Johnson said. "Today, I am asking South Dakotans to give me the chance to give back to them by announcing that I will run for reelection in 2008."

In his letter to potential donors, Johnson also noted that his campaign had more than $2 million available at this point, including the more than $450,000 raised during the most recent three-month reporting period. State Rep. Joel Dykstra of Canton, one of three Republican candidates for the Senate seat, reported not quite $82,000 for the quarter.

Dykstra said previously that he was heartened by that financial beginning, even though it left him far behind Johnson in campaign resources. On Friday, the consultant and former oil-industry employee said he was happy to hear that Johnson was going to run.

"I think all South Dakotans celebrate with him and his family, as I do," Dykstra said. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to offer the voters of South Dakota a clear choice in November of 2008."

First, Dykstra must win the Republican Senate primary, which so far includes Spearfish businessman Sam Kephart and Watertown native Bert Tollefson, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House in 2002.

Presumed to be the overriding favorite at this point, Johnson is a 22-year congressional veteran seeking his third six-year-term in the Senate. No stranger to serious health issues, Johnson has had surgery for prostate cancer, and his wife, Barbara, has twice been treated for breast cancer.

His brain hemorrhage was cause by a clump of malformed vessels that ruptured and required surgical repair. It was a life-threatening challenge that left Johnson clear of mind but impaired in both speech and, especially, movement on his right side.

Johnson said the long, difficult recovery and rehabilitation process, which will continue for some time, never weakened his desire to remain in the Senate.

"I was looking forward to asking South Dakotans to allow me to serve them for another term prior to my illness last December," he said. "Since then, I have never once lost my desire to continue serving South Dakota, but I needed time to recover and regain my health in order to determine whether I could do the job and best serve our state."

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com