Huckabee Endorses Rounds, No Carpetbaggers Step Forward

Mike Rounds’ latest press release seems to target South Dakota conservatives, especially those who might see themselves as too busy to dig too deeply into political records and issues.  Former governor Rounds now has the endorsement of fellow Governor Mike Huckabee, a populist who has figured out how to reach the ordinary conservative:

     Governor Huckabee is committed to helping Republicans regain control of the U.S. Senate and support conservative principles around the country.  Governor Huckabee only supports Republican candidates who are passionate advocates of tax reform, a strong national defense, real border security, life, the family, less government, and Israel.

       The buzz words are there, certainly enough to reassure rank-and-file conservatives.  The association with Huckabee will be taken as a “platform” of sorts, as if Rounds is both a social conservative and a defense hawk, either what he has been–or wants to be:

     “My long time friend, Mike Rounds, is exactly what we need in the United States Senate,” said Governor Huckabee, “His experience as governor of the great state of South Dakota, dedication to tackling the federal debt, strengthening and honoring our military, border security, as well as his strong support of faith, family, life and freedom – makes my endorsement a great pleasure.

      By coming out early, Mike Rounds will be seen by some voters as the heir apparent, serious about being US Senator.  Those who don’t like Rounds have had plenty of time to field an opposing candidate.  Waiting too long is a political kiss of death, meaning that political and financial backing is lacking.

      My solution to fielding “sure win” candidates last year in my post “Merit, Carpetbaggers, and South Dakota Politics” seems to have seeded no efforts, though I still believe that populist conservatives on the right elsewhere in America could rise to national prominence from a South Dakota seat, in theory the equal of one from New York or California.

      Being a former governor and state-politics in-fighter didn’t exactly give Mike Rounds the ideal platform for addressing international issues, though there are a few tangents.  Perhaps a study of former governor Bill Janklow’s similar leap to a wider national and global perspective might be instructive.