SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kristi Noem had been South Dakota's governor for less than six months when she made clear she wasn’t going to let her job in the sleepy capital of Pierre keep her out of national politics — or off President Donald Trump’s radar.
The 48-year-old Republican had a TV studio with live hookup capability installed in the governor's office. She started seeking advice from Trump’s former adviser Corey Lewandowski, who worked to raise her profile within conservative circles.
Then came the pandemic. Now Noem's pursuit of the spotlight comes with much higher stakes. While many other governors have broken from Trump on the need for stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of coronavirus and on when to restart the economy, Noem has