A group of my fellow campus Democrats and myself attended McGovern Day today at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. We got to meet the likes of Rep. Herseth-Sandlin, Sen. George McGovern and General Wesley Clark, (pictures will follow) but that is not the highlight of the day for the Democratic Party of South Dakota. The highlight of this emotion filled day came after Brendan Johnson gave a speech about his father Sen. Tim Johnson, then a video played honoring Sen. Johnson. At the conclusion of the movie the song "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers echoed throughout Hall 1 as a spotlight came down on Senator Johnson at the podium. All 650 plus people who packed the hall rose to their feet, many holding posters, and began to scream at the top of their lungs. A "6 more years" chant could be heard from various points of the packed hall.

Then Senator Johnson gave the most emotionally charged speech I feel I have ever heard.  

He began to talk about how he was on the brink of death in critical condition, survived and has made unbelievable strides since then, that many thought were not even possible. Having heard Senator Johnson speak in January I can honestly say that he has made such remarkable improvements in his speech since January, that I was stunned. He has begun to speak much faster, and did not show  the signs of fatigue  that he did in January. He spoke of how since he returned to the Senate he has not missed a single vote on the Senate floor, as well as how he has made tremendous strides towards reforming Veterans health care and rights. He then ended the speech with a statement that blew the roof off the building: "In August I told you I was back,  today I tell you that I am here to stay." With this quote I was blown away and immediately rose to my feet in a salute to Senator Johnson.

He is back, he is here to stay, and with him as my Senator I am proud to call myself a Democrat in the State of South Dakota. Tim Johnson is a remarkable man, who is defying the odds daily and therefore he should be re-elected for another term in the United States Senate to represent the great state of South Dakota, the way it should be represented.

"I Won't Back Down"- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down 

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down,
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Chorus:
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground,
And I won't back down

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
 In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down
No, I won't back down

(source http://www.lyricsondemand.com/t/tompettylyrics/iwontbackdownlyrics.html)
 

Johnson '08