SIOUX FALLS, SD -
The race for South Dakota's U.S. House of Representatives seat is beginning to heat up - in person and online - as the Democratic primary inches closer.
Two Democrats - former Minnehaha County Commissioner Jeff Barth and Matt Varilek - are hoping for the same outcome: winning the U.S. House seat in South Dakota.
And both candidates are feeling pretty confident.
"I am talking to my friends, my family, and funding it partially myself. I think I'm the right guy to go to D.C and do the job, because honestly, things aren't working very well out there," Barth says.
"I'm making phone calls, I'm traveling the state, meeting people face to face, and we feel great about the last week here, going into the primary June 5th," Varilek says.
Varilek, a former Economic Development Director for U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, has been trying to connect with voters personally.
"Through the mail, through volunteer phone calls, and making the case that I am the strongest candidate to challenge Kristi Noem in the fall," he says.
And although Varilek has raised more money than his opponent, Barth chose YouTube as prime real estate for campaign ads. One of his videos has officially gone viral, with more than 150,000 views.
Barth says the video has helped get his name out there, fast.
"It has certainly exceeded my expectations, it's probably made me one of the better known South Dakotans in the last week," he says.
Both candidates may not agree on everything, but they can agree on one thing: taking the place of Republican incumbent Kristi Noem.
Barth's slogan is "Sensible Leadership" and says he's not tied to the ideology of Washington D.C.
Varilek says he's "going to be someone who fights for those middle class families here in South Dakota."
South Dakota's primary election is June 5th.
Jeff Barth's viral campaign video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST2K4U_XQ5Y
Jeff Barth's campaign website is: http://www.jeffbarth.com/
Matt Varilek's campaign website is: http://www.mattforsd.com/
