One of the most noticeable effects after Senator Johnson suffered stroke-like symptoms is his ability to talk.  He still struggles with words, and his speech is still slurred.

The Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in South Dakota says incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson's decision not to debate is more of an issue with voters than the senator has let on.

The issue on every South Dakotans' mind this summer is the high price at the pump. South Dakotans are paying a dollar more for a gallon of gas this summer than they did last year.

Senator Tim Johnson is speaking for the first time since announcing he will not take part in any public debates during his re-election campaign.

Republican challenger Joel Dykstra said he'll hold town hall meetings with voters in the absence of campaign debates with Democratic Senator Tim Johnson.

Republican U.S. Senator John Thune is taking no position on a fellow senator's decision not to engage in any political debates for the November 4 election.

Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes United States Senate races for The Cook Political Report, says she isn't surprised the South Dakota Senator has decided not to debate, based on his condition. But Duffy says Johnson's campaign needs to do something to put the Senator in the public eye.


Get ready to see more TV advertising from Senator Tim Johnson's campaign this fall. 



The Cook Political Report Senior Editor Jennifer Duffy says, "It wouldn't surprise me to see the campaign stay on the air between now and November just to remind voters that he is, one, running for re-election, and, two, doing his job in the Senate." 



Jennifer Duffy with The Cook Political Report says since Johnson will not be taking part in any debates, his campaign will most likely run more TV ads to keep the Senator in front of the voters.

South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson says he won't be participating in any political debates this season. But that's not what he told KELOLAND News nine months ago when he told us his health was getting better everyday. 

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joel Dykstra says Senator Tim Johnson's decision not to take part in debates is disappointing.

Senator Tim Johnson announced today he will not participate in political debates during the election cycle.

Senator Tim Johnson begins airing his first political ads of the season. And unlike other elections, Johnson is taking a different approach with these commercials.

It's unclear whether Democratic Senator Tim Johnson will participate in debates during his re-election campaign this year.

Democratic Senator Tim Johnson continues to outraise his Republican opponent in the November election.

Most people probably remember him from his late night comic skits on Saturday Night Live as Stewart Smalley, but Al Franken is serious about becoming the next US Senator of Minnesota.

It will be Republican Joel Dykstra versus Democrat Tim Johnson in this fall's race for U-S Senate. Dykstra won last night's Republican primary Sam Kephart and Charles Gonyo.


Joel Dykstra had a convincing win in the Republican primary. But he says the real work in his run for the U-S Senate begins now.

Joel Dykstra won the Republican nomination for US Senate gathering 66-percent of the vote over his two challengers, Sam Kephart and Charles Gonyo. Dykstra now faces incumbent Tim Johnson in the November general election. 



Joel Dykstra was a favorite to win the Republican nomination for U-S Senate, and he did so decisively.

State Representative Joel Dykstra of Canton defeated two other candidates to win the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Tuesday's primary.

History shows that political heavyweights do lose elections. That was the message that Dusty Johnson, a
Republican member of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, delivered to Beadle County Republicans this past week. 

Democratic Senator Tim Johnson has raised almost 23 times more than Republican Joel Dykstra in his bid to win re-election this November.



Johnson had raised a total of $4.6 million as of March 31st. Dykstra had raised a little less than $204,000.



Another Republican candidate, Sam Kephart of Spearfish, did not return calls requesting his fundraising information.

Two Republican challengers admit they can't match Democratic Senator Tim Johnson in fundraising and name recognition. But they say they hope the national clamor for change will help them beat the odds.



Johnson seeks a third U.S. Senate term as he recovers from the brain hemorrhage he suffered 16 months ago.