South Dakota Special Election
by Jerome Armstrong, Tue Jun 01, 2004 at 05:26:54 PM EDT
94% Reporting HERSETH D 118,461 50.58% DIEDRICH R 115,762 49.42%
A couple of the remaining rural Republican counties that had been outstanding, Butte and Hansen, have come in, giving Diedrich about a 500 vote jump, besides a few more hundred that Diedrich will get from the 5 outstanding precincts in Reddington, that's it for him tonight. Herseth will get an extra ~3,000, depending on turnout, from Shannon and Todd counties, which will bump the margin up to around 51-49.89% Reporting HERSETH D 114,817 51% DIEDRICH R 111,380 49%
There are at least an additional 3,000 more ballots to be counted in Minnehaha County, according to local station KSFY, as blogged by Republican Jay Reding (that will pad Herseth's lead a bit). Herseth may be making an appearance shortly, which will be carried live by SD Public radio. Minnehaha is 99% counted, and Herseth leads 54-46, and in Pennington, now 80% counted, Diedrich leads 57-43. It's all over but the victory speech by Herseth.87% Reporting HERSETH D 111,700 51% DIEDRICH R 107,643 49%
It looks closer than it's going to be. Two mostly Native American counties, Shannon and Todd, have not reported. In the 2002 election, here were the results in these two counties:
SHANNON: Thune-248 vs Johnson-2856
TODD: Thune-464 vs Johnson-2027So, Herseth has won. The Democrats have won two special elections in a row in Republican districts. 11 more needed to takeaway in the November general to take back the House.
82% Reporting HERSETH D 103,410 51% DIEDRICH R 99,109 49%
Again from SD public broadcasting, reporting from the Democratic HQ's in Sioux Falls, "People are a bit nervous, and waiting to celebrate a victory, and the tension is thick, and the room is getting more and more full... people saying, 'boy, it's going to be close." They should start partying, Herseth is going to win. IN the GOP HQ's in Sioux Falls, they are reporting more energy, about 250 supporters are there, rallying, saying 'it's not over till it's over', and 'waiting till the end'; they might as well get drunk, Diedrich is toast (though he's going to get his74% Reporting HERSETH D 91,673 51% DIEDRICH R 87,401 49%
In the 2002 election, Thune beat Johnson in Pennington County by a 61-39 margin; currently, with 33% of Pennington reporting, Diedrich is leading Herseth by a 53-47% margin. Also from 2002, in Minnehaha County, Johson beat Thune by a 52-48% margin; currently, Herseth leads in Minnehaha by a 54-46% margin, with 87% reporting. Herseth is going to win.60% Reporting HERSETH D 70,613 51% DIEDRICH R 67,344 49%
South Dakota public radio broadcasting (mostly great jazz, but updates every half hour) is reporting that they expect the margin to become even tighter than the current 52-48 margin. Public nudity has been banned in Cook County, with 73% in favor of the ban. 25% of Pennington is reporting, with Diedrich leading by a slim 52-48 margin.52% Reporting HERSETH D 59000 52% DIEDRICH R 55261 48%
Over half of the votes in, and Herseth has a lead of 3739 votes. 66% of Minnehaha is now in, where Herseth leads by a 54-46 margin; still nothing in from Pennington, where Diedrich is expected to get a majority of the votes.45% Reporting HERSETH D 49,022 52% DIEDRICH R 45,518 48%
And now with 45% of the total vote counted (and nothing further from the two biggest counties), and Herseth maintains her lead. A couple of other blogs that are posting updates, for the GOP in SD, and for the DCCC out of SD; and of course Daily Kos. Democratic Underground's special election thread is hopping a lot more than the freepers.30% Reporting HERSETH D 35,518 52% DIEDRICH R 32,276 48%
Well, 43% of the vote has been counted in Minnehaha, and Herseth leads in that county by a 57-43 margin. Nothing still in from Pennington. Herseth people are on pins and needles; Diedrich people have successfully lowered expectations, and yet have a chance to win.25% Reporting HERSETH D 30,497 53% DIEDRICH R 26,908 47%
Not much change. Still nothing in from Pennington, and nothing further from Minnehaha, so that's leaving this one up in the air. If Diedrich comes in with +60% from Pennington, this could get even tighter. I'm following the county results here.13% Reporting HERSETH D 14,749 55% DIEDRICH R 12,192 45%
Herseth is up strong, but that's with 16% of Minnehaha Co. reporting (where Herseth leads 62-38), and nothing yet in from Pennigton, so it will probably get a bit closer. Since the beginning the campaign, Herseth has raised more than 1.8 million and Diedrich has raised 1.3 million.5% Reporting HERSETH D 5,604 54% DIEDRICH R 4,825 46%
Here's the Free Republic thread if you want to read along and enjoy the twisting.- There will be updates as the outcome of tonights election are known. Projections are of a record turnout for a primary, at 52 percent. Watch Dem-leaning Minnehaha Co and GOP leaning Pennington County for indications. Besides the Argus Leader, the Aberdeen American News also endorsed Herseth.
Tags: Primary Elections (all tags)
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