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date argues his background best qualifies him to win Tuesday's primary and challenge Republican Rep. Kristi Noem in November for South Dakota's lone seat in the U.S. House.
• "I think Washington, D.C., is broken," Barth, 60, told The Associated Press. "I think (Varilek) as a senatorial staffer is actually an expression of that D.C. problem. I think as a working man, as a muddy-boots-on-the-ground county commissioner, I bring an authentic South Dakota feel to things."
• Varilek said it's his experience alongside senators that qualifies him most.
• "That was such a great opportunity to get to know the state," he said, outlining his brief time working for Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota before joining South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson's staff in 2005. Since 2007, he's worked in South Dakota as Johnson's economic development di

rector.
• The experience allowed him to "get to know the communities, and also learn from Sen. Johnson how to do the job effectively," he said.
• In the race to face off with Noem -- a first-term incumbent whose fundraising has far outpaced her would-be competitors -- Varilek seemed to have an advantage from the start. He raised far more money than Barth and gained early endorsements from Johnson and former Sens. Daschle and George

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