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Senate GOP: Freshman Thune Eyes Leadership Role
The man who knocked off the most powerful Democratic senator in the 2004 elections appears to be well-positioned to run for chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee following this year's midterm elections.
Sen. Thune could join the GOP leadership team next year. (Reuters File Photo)
Sen. John Thune (S.D.) has said several of his colleagues have approached him about seeking the job and it is something that interests him. "It's something I will give consideration to," Thune said in December. "I want to be helpful as much as I can."
Taking on leadership of the NRSC would be a boost into the party leadership that would further solidify Thune's credentials as a rising GOP star.
Much of Thune's strength comes from a solid fundraising performance over the past year. Thune raised $1.1 million in his Heartland Values political action committee, which he formed in January 2005. The PAC retained $458,000 on hand as of the end of 2005, according to a Republican aide familiar with the campaign's FEC report. Thune also had nearly 10,000 individual donors to Heartland Values in its first year of existence.
During 2005, Thune donated to Sens. John Ensign (Nev.), Mike DeWine (Ohio), Rick Santorum (Pa.), Jim Talent (Mo.), George Allen (Va.), Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and Conrad Burns (Mont.). He also gave to GOP Senate candidates in New Jersey, Washington, Minnesota and Maryland. To top it off, Thune gave $15,000 to the NRSC.
Thune's fundraising success is not terribly surprising given the national profile he built during his 2004 contest against then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D). In less than one year, Thune raised $15 million with a national fundraising network built around Republicans' distaste for Daschle -- an effective leader who helped win back a majority for Senate Democrats for the 17 months prior to the 2002 midterms.
Thune beat Daschle 51 percent to 49 percent, the first candidate to knock off a sitting Senate leader since Ernest McFarland fell to Barry Goldwater in 1952. Because of that victory, Thune is viewed as a hero within GOP Senate Conference. He also gets high marks from consultants and strategists who have worked with him either in the House or the Senate.
Thune also is likely to benefit from the fact that the other potential NRSC candidates cannot seek the post next cycle. North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), the current NRSC chairwoman, is up for reelection in 2008 and by conference rules is barred from standing for a second term at the committee. Sen. Norm Coleman (Minn.), who lost the NRSC chairmanship by one vote to Dole in Dec. 2004, is also running for reelection in 2008.
Should Thune ascend to the NRSC chairmanship next cycle, expect the talk of a potential presidential candidacy to begin in earnest. Thune is already mentioned in some circles as a serious vice presidential pick depending on who ultimately wins the GOP nomination in 2008.
By Chris Cillizza |
January 30, 2006; 4:10 PM ET
| Category:
Senate
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Comments
Posted by: Delia | February 4, 2006 12:09 AM | Report abuse
Oh really?
Looks to me like a couple of nay votes on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
You see, Delia, - this is what John Thune does. He tells people whatever they want to hear, but does nothing when it comes time to act -- much like how John treats Native Americans. As a congressman and now as a Senator, Thune consistently votes against IHS funding and is perfectly content to let Native Americans live sicker and die younger than any other American. Just like Jesus would.
Posted by: Neal Tapio | February 3, 2006 11:33 AM | Report abuse
I think if anyone needs to get over Daschle, it's Daschle. Just like Bruce Willis' character in "Sixth Sense"--he doesn't know he's dead (not relevant) yet! Pretty sad...
Have you ever carried on a conversation with the man, Tapio? Go to his website (thune.senate.gov) and punch LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)in the search box. You'll get the real story on all he's done in regards to LIHEAP funding. Once again, just the facts to muddy up your argument.
Posted by: Delia | February 2, 2006 11:48 PM | Report abuse
As another life long South Dakotan, I can assure you what Sophia says is true. Senator Thune graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, for God's sake. He proudly admits he does not believe in evolution. For a man who claims to model his life after Christ, you can't find a bigger opponent of heating assistance for poor folks back in brutally cold South Dakota. You can't find a more apathetic voice for VA health care. You can't find a bigger tool for the big oil and drug companies -- the latter at our seniors' expense.
I hear Thune jogs around Washington D.C. in a cut off muscle shirt with a big ol' smug grin on his face. This is all you really need to know about the man.
Posted by: Tapio | February 1, 2006 11:41 AM | Report abuse
Thanks for a good laugh Delia. You've got to get over Daschle, he's not in office any more.
Posted by: Sophia | February 1, 2006 10:44 AM | Report abuse
I'm also a life-long South Dakotan and I am here to tell you that Sophia doesn't have a clue! The depth and breadth of not only his character, but the intellect of Senator Thune comes through when you spend even 5 minutes with the man. And your remark about his attending a "low level" Bible-college is not fully accurate. You forgot to mention that he also has a Master's degree in Business from one of our fine state institutions, the University of South Dakota. Oh, but I guess facts are getting in the way again...just like the old, Daschle-Days!
Posted by: Delia | January 31, 2006 10:55 PM | Report abuse
Business as usual:
"Much of Thune's strength comes from a solid fundraising performance over the past year."
The practice of our elected officials contributing to each other's campaigns is one of our major problems. It invites further corruption.
Posted by: Donn | January 31, 2006 12:20 PM | Report abuse
I am a life-long South Dakotan, and I'm here to tell you that Thune is a dim bulb. He graduated from a low-level Bible College. What he's known for here is his willingness to do whatever the bigger guys tell him to do. His intellect is sadly lacking, but he is handsome and can raise a lot of money.
I guess it depends on what your values are if you support him or not. If money is your focus then Thune is your guy. If you want moral courage you should probably look elsewhere.
Posted by: Sophia | January 31, 2006 10:22 AM | Report abuse
I don't think Mel Martinez is eligible for the Vice Presidency uder our current Constitution. He was born in Cuba.
Posted by: Alex | January 30, 2006 8:50 PM | Report abuse
Top 3 GOP VP Nominee prospects for '08:
- SecState Condi Rice
- Sen. John Thune
- Sen. Mel Martinez
Posted by: kid_rocka | January 30, 2006 7:26 PM | Report abuse
What is Thune's relationship with Trent Lott like. He strikes me as one of these new neo-con Republicans that seem to rub the old guard the wrong way. I was under the impression that Lott ran again so that he could take back the leadership from Fristy and his cronies like Thune.
Not that it makes a difference since they will be competing for Minority leader come december.
Posted by: Andy R | January 30, 2006 5:04 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Well, I hate to burst your bubble--but I'm a Native and proud of it! I've come from a humble (read POOR) beginning and by not allowing myself to be lied to by the Democrats and liberals; and told I need a bigger gov't because I don't know what's best for myself. I made it and I'm here to tell everyone else not to believe the lies--paternalism will be our death unless we begin to wake up.
Your distorted view of Christ and those who try, and I stress the word TRY, to live like He would; saddens me. Knocking people down is not very Christ-like either.
Oh, and in respons to yourIHS reference--it's a very broken and very sick dinosaur. Time to bring some accountability into the picture. And, for the sake of my people--I hope Senator Thune does something to change it.
I also forgot to point out that Senator Thune does care for the Veterans--his father was a WWII pilot--a veteran. I think he does care.