In 2008 I managed the reelection campaign of Democratic US Senator Tim Johnson, the #1 target of Republicans largely because the state was becoming the People’s Republic of South Dakota – Republicans were winning everything electorally – everything.

On top of that, Johnson had suffered a brain injury and was in the middle of a slow recovery which impacted his ability to communicate verbally.

National Republicans smelled an opportunity and were heavily recruiting an excessively wealthy Sioux Falls businessman Steve Kirby, the candidate I feared most.

Kirby was young, good looking, successful, and as I said, loaded – an ability to offset anything Johnson raised – and in his impaired condition, fundraising was hard for Tim.

We heard that Kirby had reserved a conference room at a Sioux Falls Holiday Inn for the following week – probably to announce his candidacy. Our research was finding problems in Kirby’s past but that didn’t matter – I still wanted Kirby out.

About that time, a supporter dropped off a photo at our office of a truck emblazoned with “Doggie Style” across the side of the dog grooming vehicle. She’d snapped it at Kirby’s home, had it produced, and brought it to me to see if I could use it.

I wasn’t sure what to do, if anything, so I tucked it into my desk drawer.

Turns out, I didn’t have to do anything – Steve Kirby did – he didn’t think it was funny.

Apparently, someone in the Kirby household saw the none-to-stealthy car pull into the driveway and snap the photo.

An infuriated Kirby immediately went to the press and blamed the Johnson campaign for stalking his home and family. In interviews he was clearly unnerved. When asked by reporters if we were involved, I said no – because we weren’t.

Tim’s wife Barb even called me and asked me to tell her I was not behind the photo. I assured her I wasn’t.

Within days, Kirby pulled out of the race citing privacy concerns for his family.

The GOP nominated a weak candidate and Johnson coasted to victory.