Through November 3rd, Smart Politics will be running a series of electoral projections for Upper Midwestern federal and state governmental contests. The second projections in the series are federal races in the State of South Dakota.

South Dakota: President.
Democrats have carried South Dakota just three times (in 1932, 1936, 1964) plus 1896 when William Jennings Bryan ran on the Populist ticket. Unlike its sister state to the north, South Dakota is not a toss up state, even with two strong Democratic statewide candidates on the ballot in 2008. Smart Politics Projection: Republican Hold (from 2004).

South Dakota: U.S. Senate.
Senator Tim Johnson is one of the nation’s most popular Senators, with Mount Rushmore State residents consistently giving him favorability ratings in 60s. That will translate into Johnson’s first double-digit victory since his five consecutive double-digit victories as South Dakota’s At-large Representative from 1986-1994. Smart Politics Projection: Democratic Hold.

South Dakota: U.S. House-At large.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is one of three Blue Dog Democrats in the Upper Midwest who will coast to double-digit victories in 2008, winning the At-large seat for the Democrats for the 11th time out of 15 elections since 1982. Smart Politics Projection: Democratic Hold.

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