Sen. Johnson Declines to Debate

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) declined invitations to participate in debates during his bid for re-election this fall, citing his still-recovering speech resulting from a 2006 brain hemorrhage that left him hospitalized for two months.

“While my speech continues to improve it is not yet 100 percent and I have not yet reached a point in my rehab where my participation in a debate would accurately reflect my capabilities,” Johnson said in a statement. “Therefore I will not participate in traditional political debates during this campaign.”

Johnson added, though, that he has the confidence of his doctors that he would be able to serve another full, six-year term in the Senate.

“In the Senate I am able to effectively communicate the needs of our state and my passionately held beliefs,” Johnson said, adding that he has not missed a vote since returning to the Senate and has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for projects in South Dakota.

Johnson is favored in his race against state Rep. Joel Dykstra (R) in the general election this fall. Dykstra accepted a debate invitation for October 21 from KELO-TV in South Dakota on Thursday.

-Michael O’Brien