It’s only early September, 2023, we have quite a ways until the 2024 Presidential Election and we are most definitely in the silly season. President Donald Trump will speak at the South Dakota Republican Convention tonight. The Trump/Kristi Noem flirtation is giving partisans on both sides palpitations. Will she endorse Trump? Will she be his Vice President? Don’t sign the Ketubah and don’t send out the save the date cards just yet. It’s only a flirtation and we still have a few speed dates to go.

It’s way too early to be announcing anything regarding the 2024 Presidential Election. Although Donald Trump is my preferred candidate, I want to hear from ALL of the other candidates. Well, except Chris Christie who really needs some serious therapy. Asa Hutchison can talk until the cows come home and nobody hears him. I want to hear from Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has invited most of the other candidates to this GOP convention and received no confirmations. Just wanted to make that clear. Here is how the Washington Examiner reports this early, maybe, crush:

Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) is the subject of media speculation over a possible endorsement of former President Donald Trump during his visit to South Dakota on Friday for a rally with the state Republican Party.
On Friday, Trump and Noem will attend the South Dakota Republican Party’s Monumental Leaders rally as special guests at the Monument in Rapid City.

“Our Monumental Leaders rally just got 45 times better as we look forward to hearing from the original America First leader, President Donald Trump,” state GOP Chairman John Wiik said in a press release announcing the addition. “President Trump accomplished so much for our country during his time in office. As the leading presidential candidate, he can inspire our Republican Party to even greater heights.”
Trump hasn’t been to the state since delivering remarks there ahead of Independence Day in 2020. South Dakota is reliably red and isn’t a typical campaign stop for Republican candidates. Further, the state’s entire Senate delegation has endorsed Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), something that might deter a visit of this nature — unless, of course, Trump has another reason to attend.

South Dakota is reliably RED, fact. The three Electoral College votes that South Dakota has won’t help much anyway. Think back. Do you remember how the spectacular Fourth of July (on July 3) fireworks at Mount Rushmore made you feel? Kristi Noem and Donald Trump do make beautiful events together:

Beautiful events do not a successful administration make. Although, we could use one right about now. There have been no fireworks at Mt. Rushmore since:

Fireworks for @JoeBiden, but not for South Dakota. pic.twitter.com/Y7V7WCrEvn

— Governor Kristi Noem (@GovKristiNoem) June 16, 2021

Politico has a particularly sour reading take on the Noem/Trump date:

Not long ago, it looked like Kristi Noem’s star was flaming out. Following a turbulent first term, the South Dakota governor elected not to run for president, and the media turned its focus elsewhere.
But if the 2024 primary is in part a tryout to be former President Donald Trump’s next running mate, Noem’s national standing appears to have been rekindled. She’s suddenly front and center in the veepstakes.

Noem is running a $5 million national ad blitz — a taxpayer-funded effort backed by Covid aid designed to lure more workers to South Dakota, but with the benefit of increasing her profile. She is doing regular hits on Fox News. And, perhaps most important, she is avoiding any of the pitfalls of a presidential run of her own — no hardball questions about Jan. 6 or Trump’s indictments and no pressure to perform in a debate.
Instead, at a sold-out GOP fundraiser in Rapid City, S.D., on Friday, the governor will stand beside Trump as she introduces him in her home state. A person familiar with the plans told POLITICO on Thursday night that she would use the occasion to endorse the former president, as CNN first reported.
“She’s played her cards right,” said Dave Carney, a veteran Republican strategist based in New Hampshire. “She’s articulate. She has a lot of energy, and she might make an attractive ticket for the president.”

I think that South Dakota is spending all $5 million of that ad buy in East Tennessee. Nothing but love for South Dakota (and Mount Rushmore) but we live in a free state with no personal income tax. We are not moving to South Dakota. Spend your money in New York.

Back to the Kristi Noem Veepstakes, like I said, no Ketubah yet. If you haven’t heard yet, after his date with Kristi, Trump will board Trump Force One for Iowa.

I am excited to host President Trump this weekend in the great state of Iowa for the Cy-Hawk game. Go Hawkeyes! pic.twitter.com/BCZMTeCYBH

— Matt Whitaker (@MattWhitaker46) September 8, 2023

Trump better not wear his red tie tomorrow. Black and Gold for the Hawkeyes. Trump’s host, Matt Whitaker, played for Iowa back in the day. Trump won’t be the only candidate there:

I am excited to host President Trump this weekend in the great state of Iowa for the Cy-Hawk game. Go Hawkeyes! pic.twitter.com/BCZMTeCYBH

— Matt Whitaker (@MattWhitaker46) September 8, 2023

Word is that Desantis is going to the game with his current girl Governor/Veep squeeze Kim Reynolds.

It’s too early for Veep talk, people. Can we wait for the Identity Politics/Veepstakes until we have a candidate. Thanks so much.

Featured Composite: Matt Johnson/Flick.com/cropped/Creative Commons/Gage Skidmore/flickr.com/cropped/Creative Commons