John Thune

Posted: June 13th 2009

From the Associated Press:

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., says a new site linked to his campaign Web site will provide South Dakotans with information about the Senate's consideration of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and also help his bid for re-election.

"The Web site is designed to create a discussion forum, an opportunity to get information and share information about the Supreme Court nominee. But it also is one of the tools of technology that modern campaigns use, and we're trying to use those mediums as effectively as we can," Thune told The Associated Press.

The new Internet site, supremecourtwatchonline.com, is billed as "a conservative source for the latest confirmation news" about Judge Sotomayor, who has been nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court by President Barack Obama. The site is paid for by Thune's campaign committee, Friends of John Thune, and can be reached by clicking on a link at his campaign Web site.

The new Web site includes a video of Sotomayor, a statement by Thune on the confirmation process and a blog that includes links to news stories about some of the judge's statements.

"I look forward to taking the necessary time to review her qualifications and record as a federal judge to ensure she possesses unimpeachable integrity, high intellect, and a commitment to applying the law as it is written, rather than legislating from the bench," Thune says in the statement posted on the Web site.

Erin McCarrick, executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said she had no comment on Thune's Web site.

Thune said people want information about Sotomayor, and it takes a lot of time to sort through her record because she had taken part in 3,600 cases during her judicial career. Thune also wants South Dakotans to respond and give their views on the nomination.

"It's designed to be very interactive and create as much chatter and discussion out there as possible," he said.

The Web site also includes a "Donate" button that allows people to contribute online to Thune's re-election campaign.

"It's a campaign Web site obviously, and so you know it doesn't seem like there's hardly anything you do online anymore in terms of campaigns where you don't give people an opportunity to contribute if they want to," the senator said.

The Internet is becoming a bigger part of political campaigns, and Obama was particularly effective in using it during his presidential campaign last year, Thune said.

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The campaign's Internet sites also feature information on the card check measure that would make it easier to form unions and the proposed cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

Thune said the new Web site will not increase his role in the Senate's consideration of the Sotomayor nomination. Thune is not a member of the Judiciary Committee that will handle the nomination, but he noted he is part of the Senate Republican leadership and has always been interested in judicial nominations.

Thune said the issue of judicial nominations and the judiciary's role in democracy played a big role in the 2004 campaign when he narrowly defeated then-Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle.

The Web site and the responses from South Dakotans will provide a sense of what people think about Sotomayor's nomination, he said.

"I think it's useful for me to hear what South Dakotans are thinking. It's hopefully useful to South Dakotans for them to learn more about the nominee. It will inform my views when ultimately I make a decision about whether to confirm her or oppose her confirmation," Thune said.

The senator has not officially announced his candidacy for re-election, but he has hired a campaign staff and is actively raising campaign funds.

"I won by a little more than 4,000 votes in 2004, so I'm not taking anything for granted," Thune said. "I've not declared my candidacy, but for all intents and purposes we've got an active campaign under way."

His campaign committee reported having nearly $4.4 million in cash on hand at the end of the March reporting period.

The 2010 campaign lineup is still uncertain because Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election, challenge Thune in a Senate race or run for governor. Many other potential candidates, particularly Democrats, are delaying their decisions until she announces her intentions this summer.

"We're kind of waiting for the dominos to fall. I think once that starts to happen, the picture will become much more clear," Thune said. "We just want to be prepared for whatever."

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On the Net:

Court nomination: http://supremecourtwatchonline.com/

Campaign: http://www.johnthune.com/