KELOLAND News Poll: Janklow Vs. Herseth (SD House; 41% - 44%)

KELOLAND.com ^ | 8/27/02 | John Bachman

[BlackRazor]

KELOLAND News Poll: Janklow Vs. Herseth

Both Governor Bill Janklow and Stephanie Herseth won their primary elections by large margins. You can expect a closer count in November.

Stephanie Herseth considers herself the underdog against Governor Bill Janklow in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives. But she believes she can win. And according to the KELOLAND Election Poll, Herseth has a slight edge over the political veteran, Janklow. The scientific poll shows that if the election was held today, 44 percent of the 600 voters surveyed would choose Herseth. 41 percent would pick Janklow.

But with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent, the numbers could still go either way. Herseth says, "Just because the underdog is a few points up at the end of the third quarter, doesn't mean you stop being the underdog. And I'm running against a gentleman who's been Governor for half my lifetime so in my own mind, I'm still the underdog."

According to the KELOLAND Poll, two percent of those surveyed say they'll vote for someone else, leaving 13 percent undecided. Those are the voters who will decide which candidate's going to Congress.

The KELOLAND election poll was taken by phone between August 14th and August 21st. Tonight at ten, we'll take a closer look at why the race is so close.

[BlackRazor]

This is the race for John Thune's vacated House seat in South Dakota. This is the first poll I've seen where Gov. Janklow has actually fallen behind Stephanie Herseth. It looks like another toss-up in South Dakota.

[Coop]

Yeah, but the last couple I've seen have shown this race as a statistical dead heat. It could be trending her way, or it could simply reflect margin of error. Either way, this is gonna be a close one.

[CPT Clay]

Close Senate race, close race for at-large 'critter,"down to the wire". South Dakota is going to be Very interesting!!!!!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sounds fantastic. :-( If Janklow blows this seat for us and loses it to the little girl, he'll be 2-for-2 in handing the Democrats seats in GOP South Dakota. There would be no Senator Daschle if Janklow hadn't mortally wounded Sen. Jim "the Giant-Killer" Abdnor (the slayer of McGovern) in the '86 GOP primary. :-(

[lasereye]

I hate to say it, but if the Republicans are having this much trouble holding on to a seat with a well known candidate in a Republican state, they can kiss the House goodbye, and probably won't gain the Senate either.

[BlackRazor]

I hate to say it, but if the Republicans are having this much trouble holding on to a seat with a well known candidate in a Republican state, they can kiss the House goodbye, and probably won't gain the Senate either.

It certainly is troubling that this seat is in play. It's sort of amazing that a 31-year old political newcomer is polling so well against a 4-term governor. I have no idea if Janklow is considered a popular governor or not, though. Herseth's family does have a long history in South Dakota politics (a former governor, a former gubernatorial nominee & state legislator, a secretary of state), so I would imagine the name resonates to some degree.