By Denise Ross

Sen. John Thune endorses McCain for president, reports the Washington Post.

One clear area of competition is the drive for support among GOP members of Congress, many of whom have connections to their own local conservative constituencies.

Which makes McCain’s bagging of Thune an important “get.”

Thune remains very popular among evangelical Christian conservatives because of his 2004 election victory over Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), who had been despised in conservative circles as a Democratic leader who tied the Senate in knots and blocked many of Bush’s judicial appointments.

Before granting his blessing, Thune made McCain promise to appoint the right kind of judges. (What, no promise for drought relief?)

Thune’s role in the McCain campaign has not been officially worked out, but he noted that South Dakota borders Iowa and he expects to play a role in trying to help boost McCain both with rural farmers and Christian voters in the all important Hawkeye State caucus next year.

So, if McCain wins in ‘08, which cabinet position should Thune get? Interior or Agriculture seems logical, no?

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