South Dakota candidates urge students to vote
With the clock ticking, South Dakota politicians are making a final push to get people to vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
On Monday, the GOP Grassroots Express campaign bus stopped at the University of South Dakota and when the doors opened, off stepped South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels and United States Senate candidate and former South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds.
The three Republicans spoke at a campaign rally held in the Muenster University Center Pit Lounge to a group of about 50 students, faculty and Vermillion community members.
Jason Nerland, a junior College Republican, said the Republican candidates called him and said they were campaigning and wanted to make a stop at USD.
“It was kind of a last minute thing,” Nerland said. “I think it’s kind of a thank you and to make sure they come and see us before the election, which is really awesome.”
During the rally, the candidates spoke about the importance of voter turnout and told students this year’s elections are critical to changing the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. There are 36 Senate seats which need to be filled, and to gain a majority the Republicans need to win six new seats plus their previous ones in the midterms on Tuesday.
“We’re asking for a change in U.S. Senate so that we can have Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate. In 48 hours, some of the sweetest words we can hear are ‘former majority leader Reid,’” Michels said.
Daugaard said he wanted students to get out and vote Tuesday, and said students who were from different states should still be engaged and vote via absentee ballots.
“I wouldn’t be the governor without folks like you,” Daugaard said. “I’m just lucky to be part of the leadership of a great state like South Dakota and I appreciate your coming out to see us.”
Rounds spoke last at the rally. According to recent polls he has a substantial lead on both Democratic candidate Rick Weiland and Independent candidates Larry Pressler and Gordon Howie. Rounds said South Dakota is a “key state,” and votes cast Tuesday could make a difference.
“We need six changes in the United States Senate from Democrat to Republican to change the course of history for our country,” Rounds said. “It doesn’t come along very often like that where you get to make a difference.”
Also campaigning on campus Monday was Democratic gubernatorial candidate Susan Wismer and her running mate Susy Blake. Both candidates spoke to a small group of College Democrats in the MUC conference room less than four hours after the Republican candidates left campus.
“We came to campus because we’re not quitting until the last day, and because getting out the student vote is very important. Anything we can do to say ‘Hey everybody, don’t forget what happens tomorrow’ we’re anxious to do,” Wismer said.
Polls in South Dakota will open at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday and will close at 7:00 p.m.
(Photo: South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels, left, Governor Dennis Daugaard, center, and United States Senate candidate and former governor Mike Rounds, right, speak to students at a Nov. 3 College Republican sponsored campaign rally in the Muenster University Center Pit Lounge. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)
