Desperation Mode: Democrats Are Getting Ready to Spend Big in SD Senate Race

10/11/2014

Democrats are getting ready to drop a big chunk of change in a Senate contest almost no one's been talking about.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is going to spend $1 million for advertising and ground game operations in South Dakota's Senate contest, NBC News confirms.

The cash infusion was first reported by Bloomberg News.

It's notable because Democrats had all but written off the race months ago.

A recent robo-poll (which doesn't meet NBC's methodological standards) showed the three-way race featuring former Gov. Mike Rounds (R), Rick Weiland (D), and former GOP Sen. Larry Pressler (I) to be very competitive.

The South Dakota Senate seat is currently held by retiring Sen. Tim Johnson (D), and Democrats winning the seat -- or convincing a victorious Pressler to caucus with them (he endorsed Barack Obama in 2012) -- would mean Republicans would have to win AN ADDITIONAL seat to win control of the Senate.

Those are a lot of "ifs," especially in a state where Obama got just 40% of the vote in 2012. But with Democrats now spending $1 million in South Dakota -- keep an eye on the race.

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