Hoeven kicks off campaign
Written by Brianna Ehley Friday, 22 January 2010 08:00
United States Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell accompanied Gov. Hoeven at a rally in downtown Fargo’s Radisson hotel on Monday to kick off the governor’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.
McConnell, the senior senator of Kentucky, voiced his excitement about Hoeven’s decision to join the Senate race and promised him the rare opportunity as a prospective freshmen senator, to serve on the Senate Committee on Appropriations as well as the Senate Committee on Energy, if elected.
McConnell assured the rally attendees that Hoeven deserves appointment to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, as he credited North Dakota’s budget surplus and low unemployment rate to the governor.
“When you see your elected official every day you may not realize just how much better this state is doing than any other state in America,” McConnell said.
Hoeven hopes to take North Dakota’s economic success to Washington.
“We need to make job creation number one in D.C. just as we have made job creation number one here in North Dakota, that’s why I’m running for United States Senate,” Hoeven said.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations is the largest and most powerful committee in the Senate. If Hoeven is elected he will be the only Republican freshmen senator on the committee.
McConnell also intends to make a place for Hoeven on the Senate Committee on Energy as well, since the governor has been a leader in advancing energy resources in North Dakota.
“This state has been a leader for America on energy, particularly under John Hoeven’s leadership. Both renewable and traditional energy have taken off here in all of its forms, and of course that is one of America’s greatest challenges,” McConnell said.
Hoeven is known for having one of the highest governor approval ratings in the country and has widespread support on the campus community. The NDSU College Republicans have expressed their excitement about Hoeven’s campaign for a seat in the United States Senate.
“Governor Hoeven consistently resonates with North Dakotans giving him the distinction of having one of the highest approval ratings in the U.S. and the NDSU College Republicans stand ready to assist Governor Hoeven in bringing the North Dakota way to Washington,” Marissa Clarin, chair of the North Dakota College Republicans said.
Hoeven is currently serving his third term as governor of North Dakota and if elected into the Senate, will be replaced mid-term with Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple.
