Are the GOoPers surrendering the SD-at large seat?
Dick Cheney is heading into South Dakota for a fundraiser for Daschle's Senate opponent -- John Thune. However, Herseth opponent Larry Diedrich is getting the cold shoulder.
Larry Diedrich, Republican candidate for U.S. House, will not be part of this fund-raising effort, but he said the Bush-Cheney campaign will be assisting his campaign in other ways.
The reality is that Herseth has a big double-digit lead and more money. And while the GOP will likely sink a ton of money into the race (the aforementioned "other ways"), Diedrich will have to spend a big chunk of it simply raising his name ID and introducing himself to the voters. Herseth can skip that phase.
Cheney's visit makes clear that the administration will be focusing its big guns on Daschle. This appears to be good early news for Herseth.
Still, there's no doubt the NRCC does not want to lose this race. Two special election victories in a row will look suspiciously like "momentum", and the GOP has no interest in feeding that theme.