Senator John Thune's Biggest Advantage: Looking Like Senator John Thune

On learning that Senator John McCain believes he would have won the 2008 election had he looked more like Senator John Thune, the humble Senator John Thune said, “He’s an incredibly principled leader, a great American hero, and I wish he would have won that election.”

He blamed McCain’s loss on a perceived lack of commitment by Republicans to their principles. “It was an environment that was a very, very difficult one for him to overcome,” said Thune, who said he still looks to McCain for leadership in the Senate.

History, he believes, will judge whether Sarah Palin helped or hurt McCain, but based on yesterday’s primary results around the country, her endorsement helped lead many of the Tea Party candidates to victory.

“People are extremely frustrated, they’re angry, and they’re afraid,” said Thune, a South Dakotan. “They’re afraid of this out of control government in Washington, DC.”

More specifically, Thune thinks Americans are worried about the debt being passed on to future generations; out of control spending; the lack of job growth; and continuing economic woes. And they feel ignored by President Obama.

“A lot of people thought the President was going to govern more from the middle, and was going to be a guy who sort of got it in terms of job creation,” Thune said. “What they have seen instead is someone who has governed from the Left, and what I consistently hear is, ‘I didn’t realize he was going to be that Liberal.’”

Something Obama has done successfully, he added, is create lots of new federal government jobs. “He’s populated his administration with people who don’t understand what it takes to create jobs on the Main Streets of America,” Thune said.

Thune is in line with the Tea Party’s beliefs, and hopes its influence will effect a big turnout in November’s midterm elections. “They will send a message to Washington that they’re sick and tired of the way things are being done here,” he said.

Asked directly if he’s going to run for President in 2012, Thune replied that the best thing he can do right now is focus on electing more Republicans to the U.S. Senate in November. Which, of course, means he is totally thinking about running for President and just doesn’t want to tell Imus.

But that’s never stopped the old cowboy before. “We’re going to announce after your appearance that you’ve announced on this program that, in fact, you’ll be in Iowa,” he said.

For now, Thune is concentrating on his reelection campaign, which he assured Imus “looks good.” Right answer, Senator.

“It’s pointless for us to develop a relationship with you if there’s any possibility you’re going to lose,” Imus declared. “But it appears there’s not, so it’s a pleasure to have you on the program.”

-Julie Kanfer