Herseth for Congress

Herseth in town for campaigning
Roger Larsen, Huron Daily Plainsman
March 27, 2004

Using the Internet is a proven way of getting more people, especially young people, involved in the political process, Democratic congressional candidate Stephanie Herseth said.

Herseth faces Republican Larry Diedrich in the June 1 special election to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Bill Janklow, R-S.D.

Her unsuccessful campaign against Janklow two years ago convinced her that many of her supporters followed the race via the internet. Many are young people who are only able to make small contributions, she said.

"This is a great way to reach them," Herseth said.

She was asked about a charged leveled earlier in the week by Jason Glodt, executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party, who claims she has set up a secret Web page to receive campaign donations raised from ads on liberal groups' Internet sites.

"There's nothing secret about it," Herseth countered Friday.

Candidates across the country are taking campaign donations from people directed there from Internet sites called "blogs," which are online bulletin boards.

Herseth spoke Friday night to supporters in Huron, many of whom are associated with the South Dakota Farmers Union.

After the last election, she served as executive director of a new Farmers Union foundation.

She will also appear at 10 a.m today at the Crossroads for a "meet the candidate" coffee.

Issues of importance to those in the agriculture industry are implementation of country-of-origin labeling, anti-trust enforcement, and a renewable energy policy.

Investments in ethanol and other renewable fuels are important in rural and large communities in the state, she said.

She applauded the hard work of development and city leader is landing the Ridgefield Farms beef processing plant.

"I'm just excited for the community that this is happening," Herseth said.

Her campaigning also focuses on health care issues and ways in which costs must be lowered.

Veterans are able to obtain prescription drugs at much lower costs because their numbers allow them to negotiate prices, she said.

Changes in tax policies are needed to address the rising cost of health insurance premiums for families and employers, Herseth said.

Herseth participated in Friday's homecoming in Brookings of the 727th Transportation Company. National Guard and reserve troops must have the equipment and body armor to protect themselves while serving in Iraq, she said.

Guard and reserve troops also must receive the same military health care coverage of full-time soldiers, she said.

The costs should be included in the ongoing cost of war, she said.

Diedrich is touting his legislative experience as he campaigns. But Herseth said she thinks while voters look at professional backgrounds of candidates, they also want to know their ideas for the future.

She talks about her experience working with the court system, in private practice and with the Farmers Union, which focuses on young people, rural communities and cooperatives.

"My work in a variety of different areas professionally, I think, the voters will evaluate," she said.

She aslo said former Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., had no legislative experience before they ran for statewide office, and they are now meeting on the ballot this November.

Herseth has been criticized for accepting donations from Emily's List, an organization characterized as supporting pro-choice candidates.

But she said it is an organization comprised of individuals from South Dakota and across the country who are interested in seeing more women elected and helps them become more financially viable.

Emily's List has been treated unfairly and it is wrong to suggest it is a radical feminist organization, Herseth said.

The group supports Democratic women candidates who are pro-choice, she said.

But it is also one of the few organizations that doesn't lobby members of Congress, Herseth said.

It has been targeted because it has been successful in electing more women, she said.