Sioux Falls , South Dakota ( CNN ) -- A dimly lit sports bar reading `` cowboy poetry '' is not exactly where you 'd expect to find a candidate for U.S. Senate . But this was a campaign event Wednesday for Larry Pressler , a former Republican senator now running as an independent 18 years after he was voted out of office . He joined a meeting of the Badger Clark Poetry Society , of which is he a member , to get his campaign messages across with couplets and free verse . `` Take Care of Your Friends '' by the western poet Baxter Black was one of the poems he chose to read , saying it reflects what he is trying to do -- bring civility back to a broken Senate . Among the apropos lines in Black 's poem , read by Pressler : . `` A hug or a shake or whatever seems right . It 's a highpoint of giving , I 'll tell you tonight . All worldly riches and tributes of men ca n't hold a candle to the worth of a friend . '' Just in case it was a bit too subtle , Pressler hit it home with an explanation . `` In today 's Washington you can hardly have a friend because you 're categorized immediately . I 've said that I think our leaders should be able to visit together , more civility should be returned to Washington , D.C , '' Pressler told the crowd of a couple dozen people . He also read a poem called `` Homecoming Queen , '' written by South Dakota poet M.J. McMillan , who was in attendance . `` Homecoming Queen '' is about a beautiful young girl whose life did n't turn out the way she had hoped , becoming an embittered 40 year-old a waitress : . `` Waitin ' tables and cryin ' the blues . Do n't judge her too harshly 'till you 've had the chance to walk a few miles in her shoes '' It was another campaign message -- that the former Republican cares about the underdogs -- those who need a second chance , or a second look . It was an off-beat event befitting an unusual candidacy . Pressler voted for Barack Obama twice , yet he contributed to Mitt Romney 's campaign . `` I want to work with both sides , '' Pressler said in an interview following his poetry reading . Suddenly what was supposed to be a slam-dunk for Republican candidate Mike Rounds is more competitive , thanks in part to an anemic campaign and a scandal from his time as governor . Pressler 's presence in the race has made it even more unpredictable , since he is a well-known figure , especially for older voters . Strategists in both parties believe he pulls votes more from Rounds than the Democratic candidate , Rick Weiland -- but both sides are going after him . `` I 'm bad to Republicans and Democrats . That 's reflective of what is happening across the board in the United States . You ca n't be a friend with anybody else and admit to it , '' Pressler told CNN . He supports Obamacare ( with some changes ) and opposes the standard GOP promise to eliminate the Department of Education . On abortion , he insists he does not believe Roe vs. Wade should be overturned , despite what appeared to be contradictory statements on the issue . It 's no wonder he says he stopped being a Republican because it went too far to the right in this state . He says he donated $ 100,000 of his own savings to his campaign , took out another $ 100,000 loan and raised about the same . He only has one full time paid staffer , and two part timers and sends out his own press releases . Before he was defeated , Pressler served three Senate terms -- 18 years . This time around Pressler is vowing to only stay one term so that he is beholden to no outside special interests . `` Today 's United States Senators spend about 52 % of their time raising money , either for themselves or their colleagues for the next election . I will not have a next election . This is my last campaign , win or lose , and if I were in the Senate it would be a glorious job because I would n't have to raise money , '' Pressler told us . He wo n't say which party he will caucus with if he does pull off a win -- thanks to advice from Maine 's Independent Senator Angus King . `` He said it 's a very appropriate thing for an independent not to say which side you 're caucusing with . That 's the approach he took , and the reason is then I would be running as just another Republican or Democrat , '' Pressler said . Since Pressler was defeated in 1996 , he has spent a lot of time still in Washington -- another line of attack from opponents , especially Republicans . But he makes no apologies for that , but also insists he spends `` half to three quarters '' of his time in South Dakota . He is quite realistic about his chances for re-election saying `` its going to be tough . '' But , he insists , it 's about the `` journey '' rather than the destination .
Angus King is a former Democrats now running as an independent Badger Clark Poetry Society candidate . Pressler read poetry at a Senate meeting . Pressler stressed that he wants to work with both parties having ties to both Democrats and Democrats .