DATE=05/03/02

TYPE=English Feature

NUMBER=7-36256

TITLE=National Implications of South Dakota Senate Race

BYLINE=Curt Nickisch

TELEPHONE=619-0920 (editor)

DATELINE=Sioux Falls, South Dakota

EDITOR=Susan Logue

CONTENT=

_

INTRO: President Bush recently visited the Plains state of South Dakota, home of the Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. The president's campaign-style stopover was a salvo in his Republican Party's, or GOP'S, efforts to regain control of the Senate. South Dakota isn't exactly hostile territory: Mr. Bush carried this farm state with 60 percent of the vote in 2000. But many South Dakotans are torn between their generally conservative values and the pride and benefits that come from having one of their own lead the Senate. Curt Nickisch reports from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

TEXT: Tom Daschle isn't up for reelection this year, but he might as well be. South Dakota's junior Senator, Democrat Tim Johnson, is in a tight reelection race with popular Republican Congressman John Thune, who was personally recruited by President Bush. Senator Johnson and Congressman Thune are seen nationally as surrogates for Senator Daschle and President Bush, but this isn't just a test of strength.

Because the Democrats hold a majority in the Senate by just one vote, a victory by Congressman Thune could put the G-O-P back in control of the Senate and put his fellow South Dakotan back in the minority leader's office.

So it surprised no one when Congressman Thune got to introduce the president as a personal friend to a crowd of seven thousand in Sioux Falls.

CUT 1: THUNE

"He's our leader and he's our president. He's our

commander-in-chief, and you know what else: he's just a heck of a nice guy, too."

TEXT: The president gave more of a policy talk than a stump speech; but he made it clear Congressman Thune is his man.

CUT 2: BUSH

"He's not afraid to stand up for what he believes, and it's

refreshing to hear his voice amongst the shrill partisans in Washington, D-C."

TEXT: While President Bush criticized the politics on Capitol Hill, many South Dakotans are unhappy with how partisan politics are coming home to them this year...

T-V time for political ads comes dirt cheap in the nation's forty-sixth most populous state, so outside money has been pouring in. Senator Daschle is usually the target. Waves of ads by outside groups accuse him of blocking the White House agenda. During the presidential visit some South Dakota Democrats ran ads of their own:

CUT 3: DASCHLE-RELATED TV AD

"...Back here Mr. President, your out-of-state allies are attacking Tom Daschle. You said you would change the tone in politics. Mr. President, tell the out-of-state special interests to stop the attacks."

TEXT: A White House spokesman says the president has nothing to do with the anti-Daschle ads. Indeed during a visit to a new ethanol plant, Mr.Bush had only warm words for the man who some say might challenge him in 2004. The president said he was honored the Senator flew home to attend the event.

CUT 4: NAT SOUND/ ETHANOL PLANT

TEXT: Here, in a steel frame building where corn-growers unload their crop for processing into a fuel additive, many farmers say they're loyal to both the president and Senator Daschle. Consequently, they're having a hard time deciding between John Thune and incumbent Tim Johnson in the Senate

race. Doug van Duyn is a farmer and rancher, who has worked with both Congressman Thune and Senator Johnson on ethanol and other issues. Mr. Van Duyn says both have been good for the state. He wishes he didn't have to decide.

CUT 5: VAN DUYN

"I am a conservative South Dakota farmer, and I guess it's in my blood to vote the conservative side of the ticket. And it's hard to do when there's so much at stake. We'd lose Tom Daschle's Senate majority position."

TEXT: South Dakotan voters will have to come to terms with the fact that their small state could determine the power arrangements in Washington for some time to come. But they've still got six months to decide. And with so much at stake, they're counting on more out-of-state ads and more presidential visits.

FADE OUT ETHANOL PLANT NAT

TEXT: For Coast to Coast, I'm Curt Nickisch, in Sioux Falls.