Former Gov. Mike Rounds took another step toward wrapping up the Republican Senate nomination in South Dakota last week by tapping Dick Wadhams as his campaign manager.
Best known for running the winning races of Colorado's GOP Sens. Bill Armstrong and Wayne Allard, Wadhams became a much sought-after political operative in 2004 after managing Republican John Thune's victory in South Dakota over then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.
Returning to Colorado and serving as state GOP chairman, Wadhams went through some rough years as Republicans lost two Senate races. But now he is back in the state that was home to his biggest triumph.
As Rounds steps up his campaign, the odds grow against two-term Rep. Kristi Noem opposing him in a primary. With Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson stepping down, the likely Democratic nominee appears to be former congressional staffer Rick Weiland.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.
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