On the heels of national Democrats’ entrance into the South Dakota Senate race, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is out with a new ad that attempts to draw similarities between Democratic candidate Rick Weiland and independent candidate Larry Pressler.
The narrator in the ad says Mr. Weiland and Mr. Pressler have “a lot in common.”
“Weiland supports Obamacare — just like Pressler,” the narrator says. “Weiland supports strict new gun laws — just like Pressler. And Weiland wants you to pay more for your energy — just like Pressler.”
When it comes to looking out for South Dakota, the ad concludes, “they both fall flat.”
The race in South Dakota to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson had long been seen by both parties as a likely Republican pick-up. But recent polling shows a competitive three-way race between Republican former Gov. Mike Rounds, Mr. Weiland and Mr. Pressler, a former Republican U.S. senator who supported President Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Former GOP state Sen. Gordon Howie is also running as an independent, throwing another wrinkle into the mix.
Democrats have criticized Mr. Rounds for his handling of a federal immigrant investor program known as EB-5, which allows foreigners to gain legal status in the United States if they invest at least $500,000 in a job-creating business in the U.S.
Mr. Rounds said in a candidate forum Monday that while the program can be improved, “it only became an issue when I ran for the United States Senate.”
“Dozens of projects in South Dakota have been successful, over $600 million in investment, and there is no citizenship for sale, contrary to the misinformation that’s provided,” he said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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