Munsterman gets the prize, Noem gets the nomination, Knudson gets job at Sanford

Win or lose tomorrow, I think Scott Munsterman gets the prize for going to the people of this state to listen and then share new ideas. Way back last summer I was saying;

…Munsterman stands a head taller than any other gubernatorial candidate in terms of having spent the last two years writing and articulating a clear and coherent, Conservative strategy and vision for our state's future….

Some forecast a Daugaard walkaway tomorrow - 50%+. Myself, I think Munsterman is the one to watch tomorrow. Joel Rosenthal over at South Dakota Straight Talk has highlighted noteworthy Primary Ads to date in these campaigns but he left off the most noteworthy of all, and it's the only thing that always works…. personally meeting the people— that prize goes to Munsterman.

Munsterman has visited 170+ South Dakota cities, putting on 70,000+ miles, holding multiple telephone Q & A townhalls with over 10,000 participants per call. Any day of the week, that beats liquidating an asset to blast out a bowling commerical. And all that will pay off tomorrow as planting those seeds, I still believe, bears good fruit– aka votes.

I forecast a Daugaard and Munsterman runoff and I agree with a Dakota War College commenter who says "Knudson will be working for Sanford full-time within the year." (To which I'd add… devoting his remaining years to paving a legal runway for those who want to land big profits experimenting on human embryos.) If anyone is listening I'll put forth a suggestion for more noble post-primary path… maybe Mr. Fix It can go to work figuring out a way to wean South Dakota off it's video lottery addiction. I do know he and I share that lofty ambition in common.

In my mind it's pretty much a given that, post-primary, Knudson will make haste to back Democrat Scott Heidepriem. They are ideological clones. At a gubernatorial forum here at Westward Ho a few weeks ago the candidates were asked if they would support whoever wins the Republican primary. Only Knudson notably said NO by quipping… "Yes I will back the winner of the primary who will be me, he he."

The numbers I'll be watching are the Knudson vote count vs. the Howie vote count. It will be telling to see who is stronger in this state, the Tea Party social and fiscal conservative constituency or the RINO's in our midst. I suspect Howie does better, at least that is what I want to believe… that Knudson's ilk are a minority in our party.

Over at KELO, Cory Heidelberger gives his analysis of status of the US House primary- I even get a vague and imprecise reference as the "declared fundagelical candidate" whom Kristi Noem drove out of the race. Cory still sees Chris Nelson way out front. No way. My prediction in that race tomorrow is Noem 39%, Nelson 37% and Curd 24%. Two more months and Noem would be in the mid-40's. She is the underdog because she came in late after she saw the same things I was seeing.

Anyone else notice that Casey Murschel (running against Hal Wick and Manny Steele in the District 12 primary), in saying she "works for a non-profit," is conveniently forgetting to make known to voters that she is the President of NARAL South Dakota (National Abortion Rights Action League)? I've been shouting that little detail from the rooftops including in all three of our services yesterday as we have quite a few who reside in District 12. Those who have no regard for the most helpless and vulnerable in our state are disqualified to lead us.