Herseth Declares Candidacy While Janklow Mulls Options

By Chris Cillizza
Roll Call Staff
Thursday, Oct. 30; 05:47pm

Attempting to force Rep. Bill Janklow’s (R-S.D.) hand, 2002 Democratic nominee Stephanie Herseth announced Thursday that she plans to run for the at-large seat again in 2004 regardless of what the former governor decides about his own political future.

more...http://www.rollcall.com/pub/1_1/breakingnews/3409-1.html

:bounce: :bounce:

More good news.

I am sure that once Janklow is out of the picture that John Thune is going to run for his old seat. If that happens then Herseth is not going to win.

I think he's gearing up for a Senate run. Rove has struck out with Nevada, New York, Arkansas, and Washington, I don't know if he'll want the further humiliation of losing Thune to a House run. I think it will be Thune v. Daschle (with Daschle pulling a victory out) and Herseth v. someone like Larry Pressler, with Herseth winning, positioning herself for a 2010 senatorial race.

Herseth is the future of the Democratic party in South Dakota and I'm thrilled to see her run!

Think about it this way. Thune has two choices:

1) Run a bruising difficult race against Senator Daschle, where the odds are 50-50 at best. Daschle is in a much stronger position that Johnson was last year. Daschle has won re-election without much difficulty than Johnson. Daschle would start out any race as the favorite.

OR

2) Run for his old seat, where he would be a decisive favorite against Stephanie Herseth. It would me a much easier campaign as he held the seat in the past.

I think Thune, if he is smart, runs for his old seat and waits until 2008 to run against Johnson.

For, if Thune runs against Daschole, and then loses (which he will), then he gets the label of "two time failed candidate".

He would have so much more power and prestige in the senate than he would back in the House. I'm not sure he wants to return to the House of Representatives. A lot of congressmen could keep safe seats in the House but take the risk to run for senate even if it could ruin their political career.

And Thune would probably have a better shot against Tim Johnson in 2008.

but it'd be a much easier race for him. He had a tough enough time against Johnson and maybe he doesn't want as hyped of a race this time.

but then gain... I'm unsure about Daschle's future. McGovern lost reelection to SD...

n/t