Both Parties Preparing For Election Day

by Jeff Rusack, Reporter
November 02, 2012 6:41 PM


The final push is well underway for Election Day. Republicans are hitting the phones.

“We've made 400,000 voter contacts, volunteer voter contacts,” said Tony Post, of South Dakota Republicans.

And some democrats are making more personal connections.

“Door to door campaigning, that one on one discussion, that's the most effective way you can campaign. And our candidates are doing it across the state,” said Ben Nesselhuf of South Dakota Democrats. 

With a pair of Public Utility Commission races and a U.S. House seat on the line democrats are looking to rebound from a poor performance two years ago.

“We've seen about 180 degree turn from two years ago. And I think that's largely because they saw who they elected two years ago in the legislature. They saw the massive cuts to our kids and our senior citizens,” said Nesselhuf.

“Republicans increased Medicaid funding by $23-million at the same time as balancing the budget and making South Dakota the number one business friendly state,” replied Post.    

Republicans hope what's happening in the presidential race will bring more republican voters out for smaller state races.

“You know what's really helping getting republicans to get out and vote? The fact that Barack Obama is on top of the ballot,” said Post.

But, come Election Day Democrats hope smaller races will be judged by past performance. 

“They seem to be very upset that they're going to be judged on what they've done over the past couple of years,” said Nesselhuf.

While both parties may never see eye to eye, there's one thing they both certainly need come Tuesday. Votes.