Pirates and Politicians at Dakota Days

No Vermillion parade is complete without kids grabbing candy

This weekend was Vermillion’s annual celebration of the University of South Dakota, Dakota Days. Political junkies may be amused by the varying levels of support for gubernatorial candidates, who were tucked in among the beauty queens and pirates in the Dakota Days parade.

Miss South Dakota 2009, Morgan Peck

Dennis Daugaard had the strongest show

Scott Heidepriem had a strong showing too

I’d say Heidepriem and Daugaard had about equal numbers of supporters in the parade, but Daugaard’s group made a stronger visual impression — although nobody except the children who were plastered with stickers by his supporters walked away with any idea of his last name if they didn’t already know it.

A sad showing for Scott Munsterman -- three people?

Is that Munsterman bringing up the rear? If so, there was nothing to indicate it except perhaps the banner holders looking back at him. In contrast, Daugaard and Heidepriem were each clearly identifiable as candidates walking behind their supporters because of the way they carried themselves. Heidepriem did the best job of darting into the crowd to mingle, perhaps because Vermillion is more friendly territory for a Democrat than a Republican. Daugaard took more of a royalty-waving-to-the-crowd approach.

Dave Knudson represented only by the local College Republicans

Dave Knudson didn’t have his own dedicated campaign presence in the parade. While a few College Republicans handed out his stickers to children, his campaign signs had to compete for attention on the College Republicans truck with the much larger one of Dan Lederman, a State Representative from Dakota Dunes.