Some of Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s political friends sound a lot like her enemies these days.

It’s that health care thing.

The Democratic congresswoman from South Dakota is being targeted by online advertisements and public statements critical of her recent vote on a House version of health care reform. And Democrats -- including a former executive director of the party in South Dakota and campaign manager to Tim Johnson and Tom Daschle -- are doing the targeting.

The online notice from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee promises “payback time” against Herseth Sandlin, who was listed among “10 Bad Democrats” in the U.S. House for their “betrayal of Democrats” by voting against health care reform.

Adam Green, who worked on the re-election campaign of Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson in 2002 and now represents Progressive Change, contacted reporters with the announcement of the advertisements and fundraising efforts to pay for them.

Green said Herseth Sandlin rejected the wishes of most Americans and South Dakotans when she voted Nov. 7 against a House version of health care reform that includes a government-run insurance option.

“Poll after poll shows that even voters in conservative states want health care reform and demand the public option,” Green said in comment sent by e-mail. “Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin voted against her own constituents, and we’re making sure she will pay a political price back home for opposing reform."

Also weighing in against Herseth Sandlin was political consultant Steve Hildebrand of Sioux Falls. The Mitchell native is a former state Democratic Party executive director, campaign manager for Johnson in 2002 and Daschle in 2004 and deputy national campaign manager for Barack Obama in 2008.

In an e-mailed statement to reporters, Hildebrand said Herseth Sandlin voted against the needs of more than 100,000 South Dakotans who stand to gain affordable health care under the House bill she opposed. He said the AARP, American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association supported that bill.

“A large majority of the American people support this health care reform. Rep. Herseth Sandlin did not,” Hildebrand wrote.

Meanwhile on the other side, the National Republican Congressional Committee was continuing a relentless barrage of criticism at Herseth Sandlin focused mainly on health care. The NRCC accuses Herseth Sandlin of playing dodge ball on a tough issue. It also called the recent Democratic attacks on Herseth Sandlin “proof that the Democrats’ civil war” threatens her re-election chances in 2010.

“With this one vote, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has fractured the coalition of moderates and liberals that she has carefully built up over the past few terms in Congress -- the very coalition that has allowed her to win re-election with comfortable margins,” NRCC regional press secretary Tom Erickson said by e-mail.

Herseth Sandlin’s vote cost her support from moderates and liberals, Erickson said.

“By waiting until the 11th hour to oppose the bill, Herseth Sandlin alienated South Dakota moderates who didn’t need to look at election returns or polling information to know that this is bad news for South Dakota seniors and small businesses,” he said.

Liberals are angry because they expected her vote, just as they got it in the controversial stimulus package approved earlier this year, as well as a deficit-ridding budget bill, he said. Democratic anger at Herseth Sandlin has clear campaign impacts, Erickson said.

“With Democrats struggling to run someone against Sen. John Thune who will excite their voters, it looks like Herseth Sandlin’s decision to anger her liberal base has made the already rocky road to re-election that much rockier,” he said.

There’s no indication yet that Herseth Sandlin is anything but the favorite to win reelection in 2010, however. Following a close win over Republican Larry Diedrich in a special election for the House seat in June 2004, Herseth Sandlin beat Diedrich by a wider margin in the general election that fall. Then, she trounced her Republican opponents in 2006 and 2008.

Erickson didn’t present any data indicating a closer race in 2010. Nor would he say whether the NRCC has been polling on health care and other issues in South Dakota.

But Herseth Sandlin is likely to face a closer race in 2010, with three Republicans running for the House nomination and potential fall-out against Democrats over deficit spending and job losses.

Green said the fact that Republicans slammed Herseth Sandlin even after she voted against the House reform plan ought to tell her that the wise move, as well as the right one, would be to support health care reform -- including a public option.

“The most politically smart thing for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to do is represent the overwhelming will of the public -- and help pass a strong public option into law,” he said.

Herseth Sandlin declines to talk about the campaign this early in the cycle. But she has said she expects to be criticized by forces on the left and right no matter how she votes on health care. She said she consulted many South Dakotans, including Republican Gov. Mike Rounds, in the months leading up to the House vote.

Herseth Sandlin said she supports health care reform and hopes and believes the House bill can be improved through conference committee action with the Senate to where she can support it. She hasn’t ruled out a public option but likes the idea of a trigger that would impose it after a certain number of years if private insurers fail to meet objectives of reform.

The House version as passed didn’t do enough to contain costs, protect states from unmanageable increases in Medicaid costs and prevent increases in long-term care costs under Medicare, she said.

“Stephanie looked at this vote the same way she looks at every vote: What’s best for South Dakota?” said Betsy Hart, Herseth Sandlin’s press secretary. “If a vote she takes in the best interest of South Dakota angers out-of-state partisan groups, so be it. She doesn’t represent out-of-state groups. She represents South Dakotans.”

Erin McCarrick, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said Herseth Sandlin remains committed to health care reform but wants the best version for South Dakota.

“The important thing to remember is that the votes aren’t over on this. It’s going to the Senate and coming back to the House,” she said.

McCarrick said Democrats can disagree on specific points of health care reform without creating lasting divisions that will hurt Herseth Sandlin in 2010.

“We’re a party of diverse opinions, and people feel passionately about health care reform. I admire their hard work on this,” she said. “I think this is a good discussion on an important issue.”

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