This post has been updated.
Former GOP Sen. Larry Pressler is now officially a problem for Republicans in the South Dakota Senate race, and the knives are coming out. Politico reported Friday that Pressler’s primary residence is in Washington, D.C, and Republican operatives were quickly on it.
Larry Pressler has been in DC for the last 2 days… (Cause he lives there) http://t.co/y3EEU2rZHW
#sdsen
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) October 10, 2014
Democratic-aligned groups are coming after Pressler, too. Every Voice Action PAC, which has committed $1 million to the race, announced earlier this week that it would attack Pressler in upcoming ads, too, the Argus Leader reported.
South Dakota started to attract attention this week as polling showed Pressler running close to Republican candidate Mike Rounds, with Democratic nominee Rick Weiland right behind. National Democrats and allied outside groups plan to spend money there over the last month of the campaign, while Republicans are reportedly reluctant but willing to help Rounds win a race that was long thought to be a guaranteed pick-up for the GOP as Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) retired.
Pressler and his wife, who works in Washington, claim the D.C. homestead deduction, which lowers their taxable property value by $70,000, according to Politico.
In an email to Politico, Pressler explained that the couple kept the apartment after he left the Senate in 1997 because of his wife’s job. He also asserted that they have always voted in South Dakota.
“I made a decision after my loss in 1996 to support my wife and her business by helping her keep a residence where she built her business,” he wrote. “My wife has supported me by traveling home to South Dakota to support me with my work as well.”
Image via Facebook.
Comedy gold.
Of course the long knives have come out for him. The GOP can’t stand the idea of intellectual honesty and freedom to think.
If Pressler’s supporters decline as a result of these attacks, whom will the majority of them support?
The Dems ought to refrain from attacking Pressler and let the Repubs do it. Pressler and his supporters will get pissed off at the Repubs and might vote Dem for that reason.
I have been listening to Republicans chin wag about how they are going to take the senate and the all too willing media are happy to spin their supposed victory. But your not just going to waltz into the senate. Your fat GOP asses are going to have to work really hard in races where you never expected them to be.
It is going to really hurt the GOP if their so called victory is about one (1) senate seat away and if Joe Biden is going to play a tie breaker vote roll be prepared to bend over.