Nelson aims to win House primary on the cheap

PIERRE — Secretary of State Chris Nelson isn’t bothered that his two opponents in South Dakota’s Republican congressional primary will likely far outspend him. After all, he considers himself a fiscal conservative.

But state Reps. Kristi Noem of Castlewood and Blake Curd of Sioux Falls said they have to raise and spend money to let voters know where they stand on issues. They also believe their fewer years in public office will help them among voters.

All three claim to offer the Republican Party its best chance to defeat Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin this fall for South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House, but they’re approaching the race differently.

Nelson plans to rely on the reputation he’s built while leading the state agency responsible for overseeing state elections. Nelson has been with the secretary of state’s office for 23 years, the last seven at its helm after winning two statewide elections.

“I’m not a new face. I have an established track record. They know what they’re getting when they vote for me,” Nelson said during a recent interview with The Associated Press.

Curd, who has already raised about three times as much money as Nelson and Noem, said he wants to serve in Congress only a short time but change the nation’s approach to many issues including health care and national defense. Then the military veteran would return to his practice as an orthopedic surgeon.

“A career politician’s days are coming to a close, I believe,” Curd said.

Noem, the second-ranking Republican in the House who began her congressional campaign only in February, has a similar outlook.

“People are looking for someone who is not a career politician,” Noem said. “They want it to be somebody who is a South Dakotan, who lives here with them.”

Through March 31, Nelson had raised nearly $91,000 and had spent only about $47,000, according to the Federal Election Commission. Curd had raised about $321,000 and spent more than $135,000, while Noem had raised more than $109,000 and spent only $17,000 after starting her campaign in the middle of February.

Curd is in his second year as a state representative, while Noem has been in the House for four years, including the last two as the assistant leader of the House Republican majority.

Both have started to run campaign ads on television and radio. Nelson said he plans to run some ads before the June 8 primary.

“Understand, I’m a fiscal conservative. That’s not just a word for me. It’s how I operate. That’s how we’re operating the campaign,” Nelson said. “We’re going to spend less money than the other two campaigns, no question about it.”

Nelson was state election supervisor for more than a dozen years before being elected secretary of state in 2002, and winning re-election in 2008. The post has allowed him to attend GOP events and meet party activists across the state for many years.

Nelson, who has repeatedly criticized Congress for deficit spending, said he can defeat Herseth Sandlin in November because he already has won two statewide elections.

“People have had a chance to get to know who I am and how I operate, and we’ve developed a trust,” Nelson said. “That isn’t something that comes with just a few months of campaigning. That’s something I’ve been working on for years.”

Nelson said he also understand agriculture, the state’s top industry because he has run his own farm since high school.

Curd said he has to raise a significant amount of money to show he can compete with Herseth Sandlin in the fall campaign.

The surgeon, who also served in the U.S. Air Force, said he believes he could help Congress improve the nation’s policies on health care, economic growth, national defense and support of small business.

Noem said she had to raise money to get her message to voters because she entered the race much later than Nelson and Curd, who started their campaigns in early October She said she proved she could be an effective leader when her colleagues elected her to a leadership post in the state House.

Noem said she has been involved in the family farm and ranch for two decades, has operated businesses and intends to keep South Dakota her home.

Tags: chris nelson, election 2010, news, state