Governor mum on possible Johnson successor

VERMILLION, S.D., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican, Saturday refused to say if he would pick a Democrat or Republican to replace Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson.

People are standing behind the stricken lawmaker, Rounds said before delivering an address at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D., Johnson's hometown. He urged patience during Johnson's recovery, The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls reported.

Johnson remained in critical condition Saturday following brain surgery, a George Washington University Hospital spokesman in Washington said.

He had a brain hemorrhage Wednesday, weeks before Democrats were to take over the Senate with a one-vote majority.

Rounds' aides have denounced questions about the governor's thoughts about a possible successor as premature and beyond impolite, The New York Times reports.

Adding to the complexity: Long before Johnson fell ill, Rounds was seen as the most competitive potential Republican opponent to seek Johnson's Senate seat in 2008, and perhaps the only Republican who could beat the incumbent.