Obama Ads Debut In South Dakota

[sniffa]

You know it's campaign season when political ads show up on your television screen. The first of the presidential ads hit the airwaves in South Dakota today ahead of the June 3rd primary.

Democrat Barack Obama is the first of the presidential candidates to air TV ads in South Dakota. It's an ad that the Obama campaign has run in other states, focusing on health care. Augustana College Assistant Professor of Government Brent Lerseth said, "And I think it's an issue that most Americans are concerned about, the rising health care costs and so it's an ad that really tries to show that I have a plan in place."

Lerseth says Obama is first on the air, in part, because he's well-connected among South Dakota Democrats, including former Senator Tom Daschle who's a co-chair of Obama's national campaign.

Hillary Clinton's campaign says it's finalizing plans to run ads in South Dakota. But Lerseth says how much Clinton saturates the airwaves may hinge upon finances and how well she does in races prior to South Dakota's primary. "I wouldn't be surprised if there's at least some effort there, but I think they're running into a bit of a financial crunch, they are going to be putting most of their efforts in states that are running in May 6th, she's doing much of her campaigning in Indiana and North Carolina right now."

Even though there aren't a lot of delegates at stake in the June 3rd primary, Lerseth says the candidates are taking South Dakota seriously because winning here would be seen as a momentum-builder toward the general election in November.

Lerseth expects Republican presidential candidate John McCain to run at least a few ads in South Dakota. He says McCain needs to show that his campaign is still relevant, after having wrapped up the Republican nomination early on.

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