Senator Rounds' Campaign Website Downplays Trump Mentions Amidst Plummeting Polls
South Dakota Republican removes some references to former president from campaign site as his approval ratings decline.
Sen. Mike Rounds' campaign website has quietly removed several mentions of former President Donald Trump, a move that comes as Trump's popularity with voters has seen a significant decline in recent polling. While Trump's endorsement remains visible in an announcement video on the site, references on the homepage and the 'Issues' page have been scrubbed.
An older version of the campaign website, reviewed by Fox News Digital, previously featured Trump's name and endorsement prominently. Two direct mentions of "Endorsed by President Trump" and a photo illustrating this endorsement have been removed from the homepage. Additionally, Trump's name was present in the "Put America First" and "Education" sections of the "Issues" page, but these references have also been deleted.
Rounds' campaign advisor, Rob Skjonsberg, stated that while the president's endorsement is still featured in a video, it's "not abnormal to hone in on general election messaging." Skjonsberg also pushed back on criticisms from Rounds' independent opponent, Brian Bengs, calling them tactics from a "Biden communications firm."
Trump endorsed Rounds for re-election last year, calling the South Dakota senator an "incredibly strong advocate" and stating, "Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN." However, a Fox News poll released last month indicated that Trump's overall approval rating among voters had fallen to 39%, with key issues like the cost of living and inflation being major concerns for participants.
Rounds, a Republican seeking his third term in the deeply Republican state of South Dakota, faces opposition from independent candidate Brian Bengs. Bengs previously ran as a Democrat and was defeated by Senator John Thune in 2022. Despite the state's strong Republican leanings, other Republican candidates in more competitive races have publicly distanced themselves from certain Trump policies.
Unlike candidates in tighter races who have openly opposed some of Trump's stances, Rounds' campaign appears to be employing a more subtle strategy of adjusting website content as election day approaches. Bengs has criticized Rounds for this shift, suggesting it's a response to declining poll numbers rather than a reaction to specific policies.