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South Dakota Tea Party Candidate For Governor Presses For Religion, Church Endorsements

By Howard M. Friedman

In South Dakota's June 8 primary, 5 candidates are competing for the Republican nomination for Governor. According to today's Argus Leader, the two with the most money behind them are Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson. However they are being challenged by Tea Party candidate Gordon Howie, a state senator from Rapid City. His Pledge To South Dakota includes a promise that he "will not expel God from South Dakota." Earlier this month (press release), he issued a challenge to South Dakota churches and pastors to become politically active, saying: "Pastors and their congregations have been muzzled on Sunday mornings by the threat that their taxation status requires an enforced silence on who to vote for, and why." Today's Rapid City Journal reports that on May 15, Rev. H. Wayne Williams, pastor of Liberty Baptist Tabernacle in Rapid City, took up Howie's challenge by officially endorsing Howie for governor during a church service.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 23, 2010 (boomark / email).