Hey Kossacks,
I apologize if this has already been posted, but I didn't see on the diaries list or on the front page, so I'll go ahead with this. As we all know, South Dakota US Senator Tim Johnson suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage on December 13, 2006, and since then has been recuperating in the hospital and later at home. Johnson, a Democrat is returning to South Dakota today to meet with constituents for the first time since his life nearly ended nine months ago. The good news is that he's apparently in good enough shape to be interviewed by ABC reporter Bob Woodruff, himself a brain injury survivor (while in Iraq) for a national news report. The interview is not yet public, but certain parts of what was said are known, and I've mentioned them below:
Orlando Sentinel Article
ABC News said, in a release: "Throughout, Sen. Johnson talks candidly with Mr. Woodruff about his daily struggles and his determination not only to return to the Senate next week, but to seek re-election in 2008."
Keloland Television, a South Dakota media outlet also had this to say about the Senator's reelection plans:
Johnson's Political Future?
It's beginning to sound more like a re-election campaign than a welcome home ceremony...
A taped phone message from Johnson's son, Brendan, sounds sincere inviting people to Tuesday's event.
But it's the last line of the message that sounds more like a re-election bid.
"It's suppose to be used for campaign related activities, but there's some flexibility there, because you could make a strong case that even though he's doing a more of constituents service thing by going back home, it's also setting himself up for 2008 run," said Brent Lerseth, political science professor from Augustana College...
"I think the perception is he's going to run in 2008 unless he says otherwise and I think they'll like to take one step at a time, and see how he'll be viewed in Sioux Falls, then Rapid City and then other towns around South Dakota," said Lerseth.
Johnson's reelection discussion
Back in February, I spoke with Senator Johnson's Chief of Staff, Drey Samuelson about the process of recovery and how the Senator was doing. Even then, the hope was that Johnson would be able to run for reelection; now, assuming the Senator's health continues to improve, that wish appears to be coming true.
Johnson was first elected in 1996, ousting Senator Larry Pressler by a 52-48% margin - the only pickup for the Democrats in the Senate that year. In 2002, Johnson survived a tough challenge from Congressman John Thune, winning by just 524 votes in a bad year nationally for the Democratic Party. Thune currently serves in the US Senate in the other seat, having ousted Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle by 4,000 votes in 2004.
Johnson was expected to have a tough reelection in 2008, with Governor Mike Rounds as the likeliest opponent for him. However, Johnson's near-death experience and his recovery have put South Dakota politics on hold for months. It became taboo to criticize Johnson, which has prevented the national Republicans as well as most state GOPers from doing anything to contest the seat. It now appears likely that with Johnson running for reelection, Rounds will stay in the Governor's mansion rather than risk losing to a popular incumbent (his approval rating is nearly 70% in the most recent SUSA poll) who has the public sympathy on his side.
The current GOP field consists of Sam Kephardt (a "Eisenhower Republican" and small businessman) and State Representative Joel Dykstra. This DSCC report shows that Dykstra is "extreme"-ly pro-life, among other things:
DSCC report on Dykstra
Joel Dykstra's Macaca Moment:
"I think 'rape and incest' is a buzzword. It's a bit of a throwaway line and not everybody who says that really understands what that means. How are you going to define that?" --South Dakota state Rep. Joel Dykstra (R-Lincoln County) on why the state legislature didn't include those exceptions in its abortion ban, April 20, 2006.
If Dykstra ends up as the GOP nominee, expect that quote to be emblazoned on the TV screens of South Dakotans in 2008. It won't be pretty.
For the meantime, however, all eyes are turned to Tim Johnson, as he makes a triumphant return to South Dakota. He isn't the most liberal Senator on Capitol Hill (he's probably one of the more moderate Democrats in the Senate), but he can be counted on as a reliable vote for the Democratic Party when the chips are down. Most importantly, his determination to fully return to public life and to serve South Dakotans again is admirable. I wish Senator Johnson the best of luck, if indeed he runs for reelection. And if he changes his mind, he is still deserving of thanks for his service to South Dakota (21 years and counting) and to the nation.
Go get 'em, Tim! And welcome home!