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wants to get rid of major parts of President Barack Obama's health care law that expand Medicaid and subsidize insurance for some people because he doesn't think the government can pay for it.
• Rounds said he learned during his two terms as governor that an elected official can stick to principles, such as controlling government spending, and still get things done.
• "We need to become a country of cooperation instead of confrontation," he told a crowd of about 100 who showed up for his announcement.
• Rounds was a state senator from 1991 to 2001 before serving two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011. After leaving office in early 2011, Rounds returned to his job as president and CEO of an insurance and real estate company based in Pierre.
• Johnson was elected to the U.S. House in 1986 and to the Senate in 1996. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2008. He also previously served in the Legislature.
• The Democratic senator said he considers Rounds a friend.
• "I had an excellent working relationship with (Rounds) during his eight years as governor, and the fact that he has already re-stated his refusal to take the Grover Norquist 'no tax increases under any circumstances' pledge is a very good sign," Johnson said in a statement.
• Burns, the political science professor, said Rounds will be a formidable candidate and Johnson represents the Democrats' best chance of keeping the seat.
• Rounds became known as "Mr. Nice Guy," after he won the 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary against two other candidates who engaged in a nasty battle of attacks, and Rounds was able to maintain that image through his years as governor, Burns said.
• "He left the office of governor without receiving a lot of sharp criticism, but at the same time not garnering undue enthusiasm either," Burns said.
• Elizabeth Smith, an associate political science professor at the University of South Dakota, said she doubts Johnson's health will be an issue in the campaign.
• "He's functioning in Congress and chairing a committee. It's hard to make the case he's not working hard for South Dakota," Smith said.
• Johnson's office has said he moves through the Capitol on the motorized scooter so he can move quickly and conduct Senate business, not because he cannot walk under his own power. He often leaves the scooter behind as he heads into meetings and stands under his own power when speaking on the Senate floor.
• Johnson's health hasn't slowed his ascent in the Senate. He because chairman of the Senate's powerful Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in 2011.
• Rounds said he doesn't expect the campaign to begin in earnest until early 2014,

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