2014 SD Senate debate: on Principles & Values

Gordon Howie: Religious liberty is foundational to our freedom

Howie: Strongly Disagree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Howie: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Howie: My life has been surrendered to Christ. I believe God is pleased by our faith and obedience, and has created us to worship Him and serve our fellow man. The Bible is the inspired, written Word of God which provides a complete guide for our lives.

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Howie: The preservation and protection of religious liberty. It is foundational to our freedom.

Gordon Howie: A great America needs God

Here's the truth: The United States isn't going to solve its problems in a country empty of faith. I'm Gordon Howie and I approve this message because a great America needs God.

Larry Pressler: Former three-term Senator; ran for president in 1980

Republicans, who once worried Pressler would peel off support from Rounds, now see his campaign as advantageous to them. Pressler "is a respected former senator who's trying to run on issues the Democratic candidate is running on," said a senior adviser to South Dakota Republicans.

This is not Pressler's first quixotic stab at public office. He served three terms in the Senate before losing his seat in 1996, mused about running for mayor of Washington, D.C., and ran a 106-day bid for president in the 1980 election. But Pressler still boasts strong name identification in the state --enough to impact the race.

Rick Weiland: Touring all 311 of South Dakota's incorporated towns

A: I believe South Dakota's made up of a bunch of people that respect and honor hard work. And I'm out there. I'm earning, I hope, the right to represent them. This town-to-town effort and the one-vote-at-a-time grassroots approach I think is (what voters should expect). Not only am I doing that, but we've had over 100 public meetings. And so I'm willing to get out there and have a conversation with the people of South Dakota. And let them know where I stand and be on the record on things they ask me about.

Larry Pressler: Non-conventional independent campaign to influence debate

It's unclear how much heartburn an underfunded, former Republican who backed President Barack Obama in 2008 would cause for the GOP--especially with national Democrats still in search of a top-tier candidate. But Pressler hopes his campaign would serve as a conversation-starter and at least influence the debate in the race.

Most of all, Presser said he's "disturbed" by the paralysis of the political system and the inability of Congress to strike a "grand bargain" on the budget.

Larry Pressler: 1978: first Vietnam veteran elected to the Senate

A Rhodes Scholar and Harvard-educated attorney, Pressler said he's spent a lot of time teaching overseas since leaving Capitol Hill, including in China, India, France and Italy. He's kept a home in South Dakota, where he's currently spending the semester teaching at the University of Sioux Falls.