Republicans from across the state will gather Friday in Rapid City - the heart of GOP country in South Dakota - to kick off the next election cycle with a state dinner.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a national name in the Republican Party seen by some as a possible presidential contender, will headline the event. He will be joined by Jan Larimer, co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., and Northern State University basketball coach Don Meyer, whose inspirational recovery from a serious auto accident and cancer won him an Espy award on ESPN.
Pawlenty will be the evening dinner speaker. Meyer will be keynote luncheon speaker and Larimer will take part in afternoon women's panels.
Lucas Lentsch, executive director for the South Dakota Republican Party in Pierre, said the party has often had two state dinners, one each in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. This year, however, a single state dinner is in Rapid City, in part to thank Republicans in the area for their consistently strong support.
"Clearly, Rapid City and Pennington County and the surrounding community of the Black Hills have been wonderful supporters of the Republican Party," Lentsch said. "In the West River region, we've got a lot of friends in the Republican Party and we don't want to take them for granted. We're excited to be having this in Rapid City."
Among other issues on the agenda is a technology briefing by the Republican National Committee, including how "social media has impacted politics," Lentsch said.
President Barack Obama and his successful use of the Internet and social media in his presidential campaign are issues certain to be discussed.
"Everybody knows that nobody did it better than President Obama," Lentsch said. "What we are trying to do is see how that works in South Dakota."
Lentsch said all four Republican candidates for governor - Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, state Sen. Dave Knudson, Scott Munsterman and Ken Knuppe - will be at the event. And there might even be a Republican U.S. House candidate.
So far, the party doesn't have a candidate to challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
"It could be a very exciting evening," Lentsch said of the possibility of a declared House candidate. "We'll wait and see like everyone else."
The banquet is open to people of all political parties, Lentsch said. Tickets cost $75 each. Additional information is available through the state office at 224-7347.
The South Dakota Democratic Party also has an annual dinner, which moves around the state. The 2009 McGovern Day dinner was in Aberdeen last May. Next spring it will be in Rapid City.
Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com
