Editing Ellsworth Air Force Base (section)

====Base realignment and closure 2004–2005====
During the [[U.S. Senate election, 2004|2004 Senate race]] in South Dakota, [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger [[John Thune]] made Ellsworth a campaign issue, stating in a 16 April 2004 appearance at the base that if he were elected over incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and Senate Minority Leader [[Tom Daschle]]: "It puts Ellsworth in a lot stronger position than having someone who's going to be in the minority and someone who doesn't have a relationship with the President of the U.S."{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} In a debate between the two men broadcast on [[KSFY-TV]] and [[KHME|KOTA-TV]] television on 17 October 2004, Thune said: "I think we have got to have somebody that has a relationship with the President of the United States, can work constructively across party lines in the Congress to get this done if we're going save Ellsworth" and was later quoted in the "Rapid City Journal" newspaper on 27 October 2004 claiming that: "an all-Democratic congressional delegation would have little political influence if [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] is elected to a second term."{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

On 24 May 2004 campaigning in South Dakota for Thune, Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]] said of Daschle: "Who is the president going to listen to more? The majority leader of the Senate, who he works with on almost a daily basis, or a senator from another party who every day is saying things on the floor that demonstrate a lack of support?" also adding: "This time around, the President is appointing who's on that [[Base Realignment and Closure|BRAC commission]], all of them."{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

Thune defeated Daschle with 51% of the vote in the election, and president Bush was elected to a second term. Nevertheless, on 13 May 2005, the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] recommended that Ellsworth Air Force Base be closed.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} Thune stated in protest he would vote against confirmation of the president's nominee for [[United States Ambassadors to the United Nations|United Nations Ambassador]], [[John R. Bolton|John Bolton]].

On 26 August 2005 the nine-member BRAC commission voted 8–1 to spare Ellsworth from the closure list. Commissioner [[Harold Gehman]] said, "We have no savings, we're essentially moving the airplanes from one very, very good base to another very, very good base, which are essentially equal." Senator Thune called the move a good, nonpolitical decision.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}