This page is part of an undergraduate assignment at Davidson College.
The Candidate
Steve Kirby is a wealthy venture capitalist and the former Lt. Governor of South Dakota who ran for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2002. Although Kirby was unsuccessful in that campaign, he has shown that he has both the ambition and skills needed to make a successful run for the South Dakota Senate seat currently occupied by Tom Daschle.
Strengths
Kirby showed he has both the ambition for higher office and the name recognition to succeed when he became an immediate frontrunner in the 2002 Governor's race (Beiler 2002).
He lead the way in fundraising with an amazing $3,030,994 raised for the primary alone, much of it from his own fortune, while the next highest amount raised was just $1,855,685 (Follow the Money 2002). Clearly, Kirby would have no problem raising the money necessary to conduct a Senate campaign.
Kirby can also run, as he did in 2002, as a small businessman who knows how to create jobs and who “can best handle the financial problems ahead” (Beiler 2002). With 96% of South Dakotans saying the economy is “very important” or “somewhat important,” Kirby’s experience creating jobs should be an asset (AARP 2002).
A skilled debater, Kirby showed off his talent when he put on a "sterling performance" in a 2002 debate (Beiler 2002).
Finally, Kirby showed his appeal to South Dakota’s many social conservatives in the 2002 campaign by saying he would further restrict abortions and by getting the endorsement of the NRA (Beiler 2002). With 63% of South Dakotans saying abortion should be illegal or legal only in cases of rape or incest, and with the state receiving a D rating from the Brady Campaign, indicating very little support for gun control, it is likely Kirby's social conservatism would help him (Associated Press 2004 and NRAILA 2002).
Weaknesses
While Kirby gained name recognition in the governor’s race, he ultimately lost the Republican primary largely because he engaged in too much negative advertising (Beiler 2002). Many voters would still remember Kirby’s overly negative 2002 campaign, which could turn off some voters to him.
Kirby’s own personal wealth might also be as much a liability as an asset. As columnist Alan Malavolti said, “South Dakotans do not vote for candidates they perceive as possessing immense wealth” (Malavolti 2002).
Conclusion
Although Kirby possesses many of the qualities needed to run a successful Senate campaign, it seems doubtful he would prevail against his likely competitors. John Thune, the Republican nominee, is incredibly popular in South Dakota, lost his 2002 Senate bid by only 524 votes, and was personally courted by President Bush to run for the Senate in 2002 (Bart and Meader 2002). With such a tough primary competitor in Thune, it is no wonder that Kirby chose not to run this time around.
Created by David Crow
Pol 318
Created: 9/20/2004. Last updated: 9/22/2004.