High unemployment, severe budget shortfalls and a surge of public animosity toward those in political power will help Democratic candidate Scott Heidepriem in his campaign for governor next year, Bob Kerrey said Saturday.

Kerrey, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Nebraska who also served two terms as that state's governor, said South Dakota voters will likely be looking for a change from the status quo next year. And a Democrat from outside the traditional Republican power structure in South Dakota could be more effective in bringing economic order back to the state's troubled state budget, Kerrey said.

"There are times when Democrats can do something Republicans can't and times when Republicans can do something Democrats can't," he said. "The next South Dakota governor is going to have to make some unpleasant spending reductions. Scott's ready for that. This is the time for a Democrat in South Dakota."

Kerrey came to South Dakota for fundraisers in Rapid City and Sioux Falls on Saturday at the invitation of Heidepriem and his campaign manager, Steve Jarding. Jarding worked on Kerrey's presidential campaign in 1992, when the Nebraska native won South Dakota's primary before faltering against the eventual Democratic nominee, Bill Clinton.

Kerrey noted the similarities between South Dakota's battered budget in 2009 and the situation in Nebraska when he took office as governor in 1983. Budget cuts and staff layoffs were part of the tough actions needed to balance the Nebraska state budget during his four years as governor, Kerrey said.

"It was very similar to the situation South Dakota is facing," he said.

Heidepriem said the next governor must be ready to take similar action to fix South Dakota's troubled budget. That might have to include across-the-board reductions in agency budgets, similar to those imposed by former Gov. Bill Janklow during particularly difficult years, Heidepriem said.

"I'd have to look at the numbers once I got in to see specifically," Heidepriem said. "But we're going to have to look at doing something like that again."

Well-publicized Republican victories in governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey last week were seen by some political commentators as signs that growing discontent with the Obama administration could hurt Democrats running in 2010. Kerrey and Heidepriem said it has more to do with voter unhappiness with those in power, regardless of the party.

"I think it sets up a mid-term cycle that would scare incumbents," Heidepriem said.

There won't be an incumbent in the South Dakota governor's race next year, as Republican Gov. Mike Rounds finishes his second term. Four Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson, are in the race.

All South Dakota Republicans could face voter backlash because of ongoing budget problems and the fact that the state has spent more than it has taken in through most of the Rounds years, Heidepriem said.

"I think that connection is closer to Daugaard. But I think it applies to all of them," Heidepriem said.

Contacted for comment about the Kerrey visit, state Republican Party spokesman Lucas Lentsch said the Rounds administration remains popular among most South Dakotans. And Rounds has worked with Republican lawmakers to help South Dakota withstand the exceptionally hard times better than most states, Lentsch said.

"We've got a hard road ahead, there's no doubt about that," he said. "But clearly, South Dakota is a leader, certainly within the top five, among states in being able to manage government and the people's money."

Lentsch believes the Virginia and New Jersey elections reflect a shift away from Democrats and back toward conservative Republican principles.

"We see the conservative Republican message continuing to play well in South Dakota," he said.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com