PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Larry Rhoden doesn't hold back when asked about the slew of ads attacking his record that have flooded South Dakota airwaves and social media feeds over the past few weeks.
"Somebody who will willfully, intentionally and maliciously lie about another candidate to the people of South Dakota in order to gain political favor has no business running for office," Rhoden told News Watch. "It's a harsh thing to say, and I never would have dreamed of saying it, but I have to."
While not explicitly mentioning him by name, Rhoden was almost certainly referring to one of his Republican challengers, U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson. Johnson has put out a series of ads slamming recent legislation signed into law by the governor that, in some fashion, lowers property taxes in exchange for raising sales taxes.
What does Rhoden make of Johnson saying the measures represent the largest sales tax increase in state history?
"It is unquestionably false, and people know that," Rhoden said.
Rhoden invited News Watch to the governor's mansion for an interview as the race to secure the GOP gubernatorial nomination heads into the final stretch.
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