(Continued from page 23)

Noem for her votes on budget and tax issues and allegations that she missed a lot of House Agriculture Committee meetings.
• However, Noem could be a formidable opponent in November because Republicans far outnumber Democrats in South Dakota and she has raised at least five times more than the two Democratic hopefuls combined.
• Varilek said his campaign would go back to work Wednesday morning in an effort to defeat Noem. He said he would focus on her votes on issues such as Medicare and try to cast her as a

leader in a dysfunctional Congress.
• "It's never easy to knock off an incumbent," Varilek said. "I think we have a great opportunity, given that dismal record."
• Noem said she's proud of her record and hopes the general election campaign will focus on issues that matter to South Dakotans.
• "I am running for re-election to continue fighting for fiscal responsibility, to work towards replacing the presidents' health care law with an approach that gives patients more control and Washington less control, and to keep up the fight to stop Washington's war on the family farm," Noem said in a written statement.
• Barth called Varilek to concede the primary and congratulate him.
• "I gave him some shots and he kept on going. I think he will do a good job in the fall," Barth said.
• The Democratic candidates, both of whom are residents of the state's largest city of Sioux Falls, took different approaches in their campaigns.

(Continued on page 25)