As we await for Kirby's imminent announcement tomorrow morning, South Dakotans from all different walks of life have stood up to defend him in this campaign. It is particularly disappointing to see Democratic bloggers like SD watch rise in defense of Kirby.  In case you are not aware, the DSCC and the Johnson campaign has not wasted anytime in letting voters know who Steve Kirby actually is. For discretions sake, I actually did not get to view the website that "attacks" Steve Kirby for his questionable business practices but I got the gist of it from the newspapers and blogs. 

I do not understand why people are up in arms over the recent events.  While the evidence against Kirby was undoubtedly dramatized, the evidence is still true. We know it is true because these are the same attacks against him during his bid for Governor's mansion in 2002.  Of course, those who defend Kirby are whining that these attacks were made by arguing that they are not warranted as Kirby is not yet a candidate. Let me ask them this: If Kirby had announced before the ads were run, would this have been acceptable? While I cannot put words in their mouths, I feel confident in assuming that they would still have a problem with it.  The claim that he is a private citizen is patently false.  First, he cannot claim to be very involved in civic life yet be a private citizen. Once a man passes around petitions with the intent to seek a public office, he has the right to be vetted by the media OR his opponent. 

I am personally glad the Johnson campaign has started earlier.  My first negative campaign experience in my "adult" life was the Republican Gubernatorial primary in 2002.  Kirby v. Barnett. v. Mr. Smiles was one of the bloodiest campaigns in South Dakota's history. This man was vicious against someone in his own party.  He willingly broke Reagan's eleventh commandment.  Should the Johnson campaign expect him to act different against a Democrat? This is absurd.

On a strategic level, I do not think this will harm Johnson.  Perhaps this "onslaught" will convince the Kirby campaign to keep in clean because they know what will happen if they don't. Unfortunately, Kirby IS going to go negative anyway with much less ammo. He does have a history after all.  Many will now claim that Johnson's health is now up for Kirby to attack but it was always going to be a part of this campaign. Johnson cannot hide the fact that he is not his best physically.  These attacks will ring hollow however as I do not see South Dakota voters, especially the older voters, doubting Johnson for something completely out of his control that does not affect his decision making (Johnson rarely speaks on the Hill anyway).  On the other hand, Kirby's past is his own making.  Voters will question his poor judgment when they go to the voting booths.  Is that fair?

UPDATE: Well, either the Johnson campaign strategy worked or Kirby just did not have it in him. He is not running for Johnson's Senate Seat.