Thune stumping for GOP candidates across the country

By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Writer | Saturday, November 04, 2006

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- South Dakota Sen. John Thune has been hard at work on the Republican campaign trail in recent months, despite passing on his party's top fundraising job earlier this year.

Thune said in August he would not run to be the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2008 election, saying he would prefer to fundraise on his own time. Since then, he has traveled to at least eight states to campaign.

Since Congress left Washington at the end of September, Thune has traveled to New Jersey, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, California, Washington, Montana and Wyoming to campaign for GOP candidates.

Thune also has supported candidates through donations from his political action committee, Heartland Values PAC. Through that committee, he has donated almost $200,000 to more than 25 Republican candidates.

"I am committed to supporting Republican candidates who believe in lowering taxes, keeping America safe and strengthening families," Thune said in a statement. "This campaign season, I've traveled to several different states to offer my support for candidates who are committed to these principles and will help to secure and strengthen our majority in Congress."

Thune also appeared with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in Sioux Falls last month. McCain is considered a front-runner for the presidential nomination in 2008.

Thune defeated Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle in 2004. He was considered a front-runner for the NRSC post because of his campaign experience -- he narrowly lost to Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson in 2002 -- but said the job would involve too much travel and time away from his family.

He also said the job would be difficult. In that election cycle, 21 Republicans and 12 Democrats are up for re-election. In addition, the next NRSC chair will lead the Republican effort to defeat Johnson, who is up for re-election in 2008.