MILLER — Former Sen. George McGovern gave a strong endorsement for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Heidepriem in Miller Monday night.

“He’s got progressive ideas for the state, and yet he’s a down-to-earth guy,” McGovern said. “I just think he’s exactly what we need.”

Heidepriem, who is attempting to be the first Democratic governor elected since 1974, said he took heart from McGovern’s success in reviving the South Dakota Democratic Party.

David Montgomery | Capital Journal Former Sen. George McGovern speaks on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Heidepriem in Miller on Monday. Heidepriem, the state’s Senate Minority Leader, is attempting to become the first Democratic governor elected since 1974. Advertisement

“He started that in 1952 and decided to run for the Congress in 1956. He was successful,” Heidepriem said. “At the time Sen. McGovern did that, of the 105 members of the legislature, there was 1 Democrat and 104 Republicans.”

McGovern, who has been campaigning around the state with Heidepriem and former Sen. James Abourezk, said he believes Heidepriem has a good chance to win.

“I’m convinced Scott can win this race,” McGovern said. “I have not felt this optimistic about a race since Dick Kneip was elected so many years ago.”

Abourezk was scheduled to speak at the event but did not make the trip.

Heidepriem, the Senate Minority Leader, said he hopes South Dakota voters are ready to look past party labels.

“We are entering a different time in South Dakota — a time I think of as being post-partisanship,” Heidepriem said. “It doesn’t matter what party you’re in but what’s in your heart and what’s in your mind and what your plans are for the future of the state of South Dakota.”

Heidepriem is a former Republican who says he believes the Republican Party has moved too far to the right.

During an hour at the Miller golf course, Heidepriem and McGovern answered questions and told stories about McGovern’s long political career to an audience of around 75 people.

Heidepriem volunteers also passed around a basket for campaign donations.

“The one thing that might keep him from winning is if his opponents overshadow him too much on money raised,” McGovern said. “We don’t have to raise as much as they do, but we have to have a respectable amount of money to compete on television and those other things that make up a good campaign.”

Former legislator Ron Volesky, of Huron, is also running for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Monday’s event focused on Heidepriem’s personality and the need for change. Heidepriem did reiterate his opposition to tax increases to deal with the state’s budget deficit.

Speaking in the town where he grew up, Heidepriem greeted many people in the crowd by name and thanked them for their support — even as he noted that many of them worked against him in the past when he was a Republican.

“I may not be much, but whatever I am, I am because of you,” Heidepriem said. “I can’t thank you enough.”