The manager for Senator John Thune's re-election campaign says his boss wants to get an early start on the next election -- which is 21 months off.

Justin Brasell says Thune thinks it's best "not to take any chances."

Brasell, who is in the process of moving to Sioux Falls from Kentucky, says raising money will be a focus of the early effort.

He says he thinks Thune, a Republican, wants to put together one of the best Senate campaigns in the country -- and that requires
lots of money.

Brasell managed Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's successful campaign in Kentucky last year.

He says the Thune campaign has a downtown Sioux Falls office and will announce some campaign hires later this week.

No one has yet publicly announced for Thune's seat.