Republican Gov. Kristi NoemShe was hoping to rally support for her South Dakota election bid Wednesday by holding rallies with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Tulsi Gabbard (ex-Rep.
Noem rose to national prominence in the GOP during her term of the state’s first female governor, but she has also shown signs of political vulnerability even in red South Dakota. Nearly 6-to-1 has been the advantage of Noem’s Republican opponent, Jamie Smith, a state lawmaker.
Noem made three rallies Wednesday, hopping between the state’s biggest cities. Smith, on the other hand, set out on an RV tour around the state.
Noem is focused on making sure her base succeeds Election Day. Youngkin called it “close” during the rally.
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The rally attracted a few hundred people to Sioux Falls’ convention hall. Youngkin laughed as Noem presented him with a cowboy cap. The governor of Virginia then launched basketballs into the crowd.
Noem’s choice of campaign surrogates — Youngkin, who won election in a trending-blue Virginia last year, and Gabbard, who recently left the Democratic Party — suggested she was trying to appeal to moderate voters. She said that Noem will not be attending a rally in Sioux City on Thursday with former President Donald Trump.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem addresses a crowd at a Sioux Falls campaign rally on November 2, 2022. A series of events was organized by the Republican governor to boost her support for reelection. Glenn Youngkin and Rep. Tulsi Gambbard.Â
(AP Photo/Stephen Groves)
Noem was close to Trump during the early days of the election Pandemic of COVID-19She was ridiculed for mandating the closing of businesses or the use of masks. This position earned her national attention from the GOP and she has defended right-wing positions regarding abortion and education.
Noem claimed Smith “attacked” him every day for not closing down the state and allowing businesses to continue to operate.
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Noem has tried to tie Smith to President Joe Biden, who she says is “too extreme” for South Dakota — a state where voter rolls have almost twice as many Republicans as Democrats.
Smith ran as a moderate and worked with Republicans in the state House of Representatives. He led a caucus of only eight Democratic members.
Noem’s rallies were seen by him as a sign that she was “worried” or another example of her “nationalizing the race.” Noem was accused by him of being more concerned with national ambitions than her work at home.
“We continue to do what we’ve done all along and that’s focus on South Dakota,” he told The Associated Press.
Noem’s speculation has led to speculation that she might run for the White House in 2024. However, she said she would serve four more terms as governor if elected.
Youngkin is a rising star in the GOP and has been a regular presence at Republican campaigns across the country.
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He stated, “What we did in Virginia last year was to take a state that everyone thought was blue, and bring people together around common sense solutions to these kitchen table problems,” pointing out inflation, education, and crime.
Gabbard sought to win the 2020 election Nomination for the Democratic presidential officeBut she defected to the Party this year. She campaigned in support of Republican candidates during the midterm election in a variety of swing states including South Carolina, Arizona and Michigan.
