American Idol Top Five Finalists: Which Contestants will win
American Idol Top Five Finalists: Which Contestants will win? Tuesday, which was filing day here in South Dakota, was a day of hope for many. Much like the opening day in baseball, the good feelings flow strongly when a whole campaign lay ahead and the prospects of winning seem within grasp.
But today is Wednesday, so we’ll give a shout out to five people who could be facing a lack of voter support in their efforts to advance.
5. Bert Tollefson
Bert Tollefson, 77, a Watertown native and retired real estate agent who got 1 percent of the vote in an unsuccessful 2002 bid in the Republican primary for U.S. House of Representatives, had not filed his petitions as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
They could still be in the mail, but it didn’t sound good last week when Journal political reporter Kevin Woster checked in with Bert. Tollefson, one of the most venerable politicos on the South Dakota scene (he’s in his late 70s), said weather was hampering his efforts to gain enough signatures.
I’m rooting for Bert, not only because it’s always the more the merrier for those covering elections, but you’ve got to love someone whose political career soared during the Eisenhower administration and likes to share stories of how he served in the Armed Forces with Strom Thurmond.
4. Russell Oubre
Don’t know much about Russell Oubre other than he isn’t Sam Kooiker, the oft contentious and self-appointed watch dog of Rapid City’s Common Council. We’re not counting out Oubre by any means, but last year’s runner-up in the mayoral contest seems to have a leg up when it comes to name recognition and track record.
However, history has shown that coming close in a mayoral election isn’t a guarantee to a return to one’s council seat. Mark Spiers came within a cat’s whisker of unseating Bruce Oberlander in Deadwood in the ’90s and then was ousted by a political newcomer in the ensuing city commission election. Spiers has since made it back to the commission, but it only goes to prove that politics is a fickle game.
3. Alice McCoy
I’m not about to second guess the former legislator’s support in Rapid City and the surrounding area. However, how much support does it take to run for two offices simultaneously.
McCoy is reportedly running for both the Rapid City Board of Education and the District 35 Senate seat to be vacated by longtime politico Bill Napoli. An anonymous poster at the South Dakota War College blog speculated that McCoy likely filed for the school board and then jumped into the Senate race when Napoli unexpectedly announced he wouldn’t run this year.
Regardless, even if it is legal to run in two races that will appear on the same ballot, is it a good idea? Only the voters know … and maybe Secretary of State Chris Nelson.
2. Hillary Clinton
Hey, can’t a former first lady get a little love. Well, not in South Dakota, apparently.
Not only have most major players in the state’s Democrat elite already pledged allegiance to her opponent), Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., but even the state’s original liberal/progressive icon George McGovern has rained on her parade by saying he is skeptical that the country is ready for a female president.
Then again, maybe she shouldn’t be so worried. When it comes to presidential politics, McGovern has missed the mark at least once or twice.
1. Kristy Lee Cook
What race is she in? Well, the one to become the next American Idol, of course. Cook was previously panned on the Journal’s own music blog, Feedback and Distortion, in a post called “American Idiots…I mean Idol” by staffer Crystal Hohenthaner. Others in the blogosphere seem to hold out the same hope that she disappears — soon. (One of the best assessments of this week’s pefromances can be found at tvfodder.com)
Still, Tuesday’s performance of “God Bless The USA” was by far the shrewdest of political moves of this fledgling election season and deserves notice. Will it be enough to save the last Country artist in the Idol”?
Probably not, but she might be able to run for office.
American Idol Top 5 Finalists: Which Contestants will win?