KELO-TV
On Friday a KELOLAND News crew was inside the private fundraising event attended by President Donald Trump in Sioux Falls. U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem is vying to swap Washington for Pierre as the midterm elections quickly approach.
“I know, it’s a governor’s race, and I can’t do it for the governors, ’cause I’m trying to get our senators in, I’m trying to get our Congress people in, very important,” Trump said.
Just the same, Trump was here.
“I’m not doing this for every governor,” Trump said.
The commander in chief left no doubt about how he feels about South Dakota’s Republican gubernatorial candidate.
“Kristi is a very special person. She’s extraordinary. I dealt with her. She’s tough, she’s strong, she’s nice, sometimes she’s not so nice, but that’s only when it’s important for her constituents. She fought for you so hard, and I saw it,” Trump said.
Trump also took a dig at Noem’s Democratic opponent.
“Billie Sutton and people like Billie Sutton, Democrats with the very strong liberal leaning, they’re going to destroy your Medicare, and they’re going to destroy your Social Security … it’s going to be left alone, your Social Security will be left alone,” Trump said.
Trump says that when he learned Noem was running, he said “what a match.”
“She wins, they’re going to have somebody that’s very special. So that’s why I’m here. Came a long way, but it’s very important to be here, because when you have people that are dedicated like Kristi, when you have people that care so much about what they’re doing, I think I have an obligation, even to the country,” Trump said.
For her part, Noem echoed a familiar slogan.
“Make America great again. Thank you!” Noem said.