She won!

Kristi Noem, South Dakota's homegrown farmer, rancher, small businesswoman, handily won yesterday's 3-way primary race for U.S. House of Representatives.  Starting in February, well after the others were up and running, put Kristi behind-the-8-ball.  But never mind, she crisscrossed the state hitting many of the politically marginal burgs.  Folks who formerly did not know the four-year state representative were impressed.

As a long-time family friend, here is what I know about Kristi Arnold Noem:  No one works harder, she knows where her strength lies - faith, family, friends - and is unwavering in her core principles.  

What are those principles, you ask?  Washington power addicts getting out of the way for business to creatively thrive, focus on a balanced budget to forestall the inevitable insolvency of the dollar, and strong national security.  Basically the role of government is national security against all enemies foreign and domestic and allowing families to keep what they earn.  No duplicity, deceit, exploitive back-room-deals to ram-rod an agenda that undercuts hard working Americans.  An even playing field without the failed micro-managing of outcomes.

To my delight, Kristi's mother Corinne, asked me to join 100 of their closest friends and family for a meal at Kristi's home last night.  We then hopped aboard a giant grayhound headed for Sioux Falls - aka, Soo Foo - with the election results seeping in as we drove.  By the time we arrived at the Marriott, Kristi's contender was conceding.

Kristi's interviews and victory speech are available on the Argus Leader website: http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100609/NEWS/6090318/1001/news

Danielle, the family reporter, had this to say:  I saw Kristi's interview on Argus Leader's site. Great interview!

Solid answers, no hesitation. The reporter, on the other hand, struggled a bit. He stumbled over his questions a bit. Maybe he's a newspaper reporter that was just thrown in front of a camera.

Anyway, wish I were there to cover all this. Though, it'd be tough to stay balanced with a Noem in the running.

And about that bus trip ~ four generations of the indomitable Arnold family were aboard.  Grandma Aryls - 88 years strong - led the parade with 11 of 14 great grandchildren in tow. God bless American families one and all.