State GOP

PP links this story at The Gribble Report regarding the State GOP. Rusty argues that new blood is needed at the state party otherwise we are going to continue to have our backsides handed to us. While I agree to a certain extent with what he has to say, I think he is missing one important aspect. When John Thune first ran against Tim Johnson he created an enormous amount of enthusiasm among young Republicans in this state. This enthusiasm fueled the amazing effectiveness of the Victory program. It can't be denied that the enthusiasm people had for Thune, and the future of the party at that time, also bled into the state races and the state GOP. Now it seems that enthusiasm, so evident a relatively short time ago, has disappeared. I'm sure the GOP's recent performance in the state elections is in part caused by the complacency that a party in power for so long naturally develops. I think part of the blame also falls at the Governor's feet. He is a horrible leader, and has done nothing to cultivate any sort of enthusiasm within the state party. However, in my opinion, a part of it is also the fact that there is no candidate for Republicans to get excited about and get behind. I don't think its any coincidence that the Dem resurgence in SD is occurring during Stephanie's ascendancy.