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Sen. John Thune (R) to pitch in across country.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  June 21st, 2010 at 09:00 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I’m sure that the Democrats are kicking themselves right now:

The South Dakota Republican — who also leads the Senate GOP Policy Committee and is widely viewed as a 2012 presidential contender —is up for re-election this year. But no Democrat or Independent filed to run against him, leaving him with plenty of time and money to help Republicans win seats this November as the party seeks to regain a true sense of relevancy on Capitol Hill.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) said Thursday he planned to meet with Thune soon to explore ways the up-and-coming first-term Senator could help the NRSC and GOP candidates from now until Election Day. Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) added that he fully expects Thune to be a strong political asset over the next 135 days.

Senator Thune is, after all, possessed of a dangerous combination: he’s able, popular, and not particularly busy this electoral cycle.  Two out of three would be a net gain for the GOP’s 2010 electoral campaigns; three out of three is very welcome news.  And since the DSCC’s recruiting program so spectacularly fell down on the job here*, you can even say that this bit of good fortune is ultimately due to the Democrats…

Moe Lane

*Admittedly, this implies that there have been times when the DSCC has not fallen down on the job in this election cycle; examples of which are not immediately obvious.  Mob-friendly bankers, false claimants of combat service, in-over-their-head legislators who might not even make it out of a primary, dead-women-walking, Martha Coakley… when your best shots for a Senate pickup are Fisher in Ohio and Carnahan in Missouri, that’s not a validation of the system; it’s an indictment of it.

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

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COMMENTS

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  • acat

    This is Thune’s opportunity to show what he’s got. Man, mouse, etc.

    Let’s see if your man can bring it when it counts.

    Mew

  • http://twitter.com/JoeKenHa joekenha

    I like John Thune and I hope that he does indeed run in 2012.

  • mriggio

    from where they sit, it’s not a bug, it’s a feature!

  • GopTiger

    Considering some of the stupid moves made by Cornyn and the NRSC, I would hope Thune is smart enough to keep his distance.

    Thune’s strategy is to emerge in 2011 as the candidate most everybody can agree on after they realize Romney, Huck, Newt, Paul, and Pawlenty are too damaged to be the 2012 nominee. Collecting a few senatorial and gubernatoria IOUs is fine, but Thune has to keep his eye on the prize: coming out of “nowhere” to win Iowa and propel himself toward the nomination.

    Considering how close Iowa is the SD, maybe being a terrific Senator and running a fine 2010 relection campaign might be his smartest move.

  • chihank

    The trend in 2010 is that unknown candidates, with little hope of winning 6 months ago, are surging in the final 2 months of the primary, and winning the primary. Witness Haley & Angle. I think the trend will continue in 2012. Tim Pawlenty, Mitch Daniels, Thune, Haley Barbour. Jindal, and maybe DeMint plan on raising their national profiles after the mid terms. I have a feeling Romney, Huckabee, Newt, & Palin will be pushed aside for new blood.

  • crosley

    Of the crop of candidates that we know are running in 2012, I really like Thune. I personally think America is still going to be really sour on Obama by the time 2012 rolls around, but he’ll still be incredibly formidable.

    Republicans need to stop this ridiculous cycle of only nominating the guy that’s “next in line”. It didn’t work for Bob Dole or John McCain.

    Of the Republicans that are definitely running, I am fearful that we could lose an election that we should easily win. Thune is one of the few Republican candidates I can get excited about, and he’s also incredibly electable.

  • JSobieski

    nt

  • ZootSuit

    Because Romney, Huckabee, Newt and Palin would all lose — and in some cases, lose BIG — to Obama in 2012.