No-show Noem blows off Watertown event

So much for trying to upstage President Obama.

If you were planning on attending that roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Kristi Noem in Watertown this afternoon—you can stay home. Noem has had to cancel the event. She was scheduled to talk with local business and community leaders about small business issues, taxes and health care, but a spokeswoman says she needs to remain in Washington today.

Read it here.

Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown is scheduled to host President Obama who will deliver the commencement speech for the Class of '15.

Watertown Public Schools will dismiss students early on May 8th—the day President Obama will be in town to speak to graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute. K-through-8th grade students in Watertown Public Schools, Watertown Christian and Immaculate Conception will dismiss at 1:30 with busses running at that time. To assist with the early dismissal that day, the Watertown Boys and Girls Club will host after school programs for students in grades K through 6 at each Watertown public elementary school. [KWAT Radio]

LATI has joined with Habitat for Humanity for a Watertown construction project.

2015 graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute can now sign up for tickets for Commencement Day featuring keynote speaker President Barack Obama. LATI spokeswoman LuAnn Strait says the college has set up a specific “graduate” tab on the LATI web site, Graduates need to access that site to get a ticket for themselves and up to four family members to attend the graduation ceremony. [KWAT Radio]

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle remains a popular figure among South Dakota Democrats, American Indians and veterans. He is expected to accompany Obama in Watertown and some believe he is ready to help energize the state party.

Under Obama's leadership confidence in the economy is at its highest since the Great Recession.

Democrat Matt Varilek ran a strong but unsuccessful campaign against Republican Noem in 2012. As Region 8 director for the Small Business Administration Matt Varilek has done far more for South Dakota than Kristi Noem has.

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South Dakota's current governor has turned to Varilek and the SBA after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied one in a barrage of disaster declaration requests from the red state. The governor's political party passed a resolution at their convention to impeach President Obama who appointed Varilek.

Noem has a history of flakiness and not showing up for things.

Photo: Rep. Aaron Schock and Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) at the Great Wall of China last April.