Tim Johnson Hires Top Dem Strategist For 2008 Reelection

[Deano963]

From TPM Cafe:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jan/19/tim_johnson_hires_top_dem_strategist_for_2008_reelection

Senator Tim Johnson may still be in the hospital recovering from emergency brain surgery, but that hasn't stopped him from beginning to staff up for his 2008 reelection campaign. The Associated Press reports that Johnson has hired Steve Jarding, a South Dakota native and top Dem strategist, who has worked for the likes of Bob Kerrey, Mark Warner, Tom Daschle and Jim Webb. So while Johnson is still absent from the Senate floor for now, it's looking like he'll nevertheless be back on the campaign trail in 2008.

[they don't love you like i love you]

OK DWTL, can you get over your hackish delusion now? He's running.

[WalterMitty]

OK DWTL, can you get over your hackish delusion now? He's running.

...and losing

[they don't love you like i love you]

OK DWTL, can you get over your hackish delusion now? He's running.

...and losing

to who?

oh, and just like Bob Casey, Deval Patrick, Ted Strickland and Amy Klobuchar, right?

[WalterMitty]

OK DWTL, can you get over your hackish delusion now? He's running.

...and losing

to who?

oh, and just like Bob Casey, Deval Patrick, Ted Strickland and Amy Klobuchar, right?

mike rounds.

[Virginian87]

Jarding is one of the best men in the business.  He'll run a solid campaign for Sen. Johnson.

[Frodo]

Given 2008 will likely be a strongly Democratic year (if we're still in Iraq, and Iraq is still in much the same piss-poor shape it is in now despite Bush's last throw of the dice by escalating the number of troops there), I'd have to presume that Democrats will keep this seat, regardless of whether Senator Johnson runs or not.   

[they don't love you like i love you]

OK DWTL, can you get over your hackish delusion now? He's running.

...and losing

to who?

oh, and just like Bob Casey, Deval Patrick, Ted Strickland and Amy Klobuchar, right?

mike rounds.

The guy who hasn't shown any intention of running?

But anyway, in 2002 Johnson basically tied Thune, who had won previously with over 70%. Rounds won with about 62%, and the abortion deal no doubt hurt him.

And I love how you ignored the part about Casey, Patrick, Strickland and Klobuchar. Let's face it Walter, you aren't too hot in the predictions department.

[Deano963]

OK DWTL, can you get over your hackish delusion now? He's running.

...and losing

to who?

oh, and just like Bob Casey, Deval Patrick, Ted Strickland and Amy Klobuchar, right?

mike rounds.

Dude, get help. Rounds would not have defeated Johnson in the first place, but now that Johnson suffered a hemorage he is going to receive a large sympathy vote and win by an even bigger margin. I suspect Rounds knows he has no chance of defeating Johnson now and won't even run in order to save himself from the embarrassment.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Johnson will probably keep his seat if he runs again. The stroke thing would hurt him in some other states, but South Dakotans, like other midwesterners, are sympathetic types who'll be more likely to vote for him. Rounds trying to use Johnson's illness as a pathway into the senate will not play well. In any event, I think Rounds is too damaged from the abortion referrendum to run a credible campaign for senate, even though he was reelected by a wide margin.

[opebo]

Johnson will probably keep his seat if he runs again. The stroke thing would hurt him in some other states, but South Dakotans, like other midwesterners, are sympathetic types who'll be more likely to vote for him. Rounds trying to use Johnson's illness as a pathway into the senate will not play well.

Strangeland is very correct here - does anyone remember Missouri electing a dead man for whom we had sympathy over a living, breathing theocrat similar to Rounds?