You know all that talk about politics and strange bedfellows. Yesterday during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, there were two very good examples.
First, Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate for president, made an onstage appearance last night at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground, famed Sturgis Rally party venue. Actually, it wasn’t so strange. McCain was there to receive a veteran’s salute, and to make a brief stump speech. The crowd at the Chip is big, diverse, patriotic and loaded with fellow veterans.
Then you have Gov. Mike Rounds, an insurance salesman by trade, sharing the stage with members of KISS.
KISS played last night at Glencoe’s Rock’n the Rally concert venue a few miles up the road from the Chip. Rounds had proclaimed Aug. 4 as KISS Rock and Roll day in South Dakota. Sturgis Mayor Maury LaRue was going to make the presentation backstage prior to the concert. But Rounds himself showed up to join LaRue in making the proclamation — onstage at Rockin’ the Rally.
So you have perhaps one of the flashiest bands in the history of rock ‘n’ roll appearing with perhaps the least-flashy person in the history of South Dakota politics.
I do give Gov. Rounds credit for being a good sport. The Sturgis Rally is a huge economic engine for South Dakota, and big name headliners can do nothing but help. And a little good old hospitality goes a long way, even for rock stars.
I’m told that the Rock’n the Rally had a good crowd for the KISS concert. Other acts on tap include John Fogerty, Larry the Cable Guy and Kenny Chesney.
In the above photo, I’ll let you guess which one is the governor.
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