Why such disparity between the Dakotas?

[democrattotheend]

At the time of this post, Hillary is up 54-46 in South Dakota, whereas Bernie is up 62-30 in North Dakota. Why such disparity between what I understand to be two relatively politically similar states? Is one a primary and one a caucus?

[hrmjustin]

1. One is a caucus and one is a primary.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. Yes, North Dakota is a caucus.

[Fresh_Start]

3. clinton is probably not going to win SD either

the biggest county is going for sanders...and its big enough to wipe out clinton's lead

[woolldog]

8. What's the biggest county in SD???

[Fresh_Start]

10. minnihaha...sioux falls area

I'm sure I'm misspelling it
http://www.decisiondeskhq.com/results/2016/primary/dem/president/south-dakota/
graphic indicates size of county by population instead of geography...rather clever I think

[woolldog]

12. Tks. How do you know Bernie is going to win it big?

[Fresh_Start]

28. I've been talking a lot to people in that area....but it looks like

the people I've been talking to might not have had a good understanding.
Last time I looked, CLinton had a small lead.

[brooklynite]

29. NBC just called it for Clinton...

[eastwestdem]

5. Also, there is a much higher percentage of Native Americans in South Dakota. nt

[democrattotheend]

6. Hasn't Bernie done well with Native Americans?

I thought he won them in Minnesota and at least one other state where they were large enough to be in the exit poll.

[Ken Burch]

11. He won the Alaska Native vote in the caucus here, too.

Would have won it in a primary, for that matter.

[Zorra]

25. Bernie won the SD counties where the large reservations are located, and probably won the

Yankton Rez vote as well, although he lost the counties where the Yankton Rez is located.

There are a few small reservations in the Eastern part of the state where Clinton won, but the population numbers of these reservations are pretty low NA vote was easily overridden by the white vote in those areas.

Bernie won the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, and Black Hills Rez areas. I reckon these reservations make up about 90% of the entire NA reservation population of South Dakota.

[Zorra]

26. Looks like Bernie took the Sisseton Rez area in the NE corner of the state, too.

[joshcryer]

7. Undemocratic caucases.

Same split happened in 2008.

[democrattotheend]

9. In 2008 they were 3 months apart

But yeah, the primary v. caucus distinction makes sense, especially when the winner of the primary has already been called. Caucus voters are more likely to take action to have their voices heard despite being told it's over

[PepperHarlan]

13. One is a primary

The other uses an undemocratic caucus system that is more for activists than rank and file voters.

[notadmblnd]

14. That's easy. One Dakota is in the South. Says so right in it's name

And we all know Hillary wins the southern states. At least in the Democratic Primaries, she does.

[Hiraeth]

18. lol

[book_worm]

15. Bernie wins caucuses and HRC wins primaries.

[itsrobert]

16. Democracy = Hillary Anti-Democray = Bernie

see how that works.

[ALBliberal]

23. Rude

[larkrake]

17. Oil

[ancianita]

19. Exactly.

[TwilightZone]

20. No.

The oil is a relatively new development - it wasn't discovered until 2006 and wasn't at full capacity until 2012.

The same split happened in 2008. ND has a caucus. SD has a primary. That's the main difference.

[Jackilope]

21. I reside in SD and do not get it

Bernie came to SD and reached out to us. He is only candidate that addressed and related to Native American people and issues. He attracted over 4000 in Sioux Falls alone. Bill got 300. East River is more progressive than West River.

There are times I truly dislike the political make up of my state.

[Garrett78]

22. As with WA, this really highlights the difference between caucuses and primaries.

Caucuses suppress the vote in a big way. But without caucuses, Clinton would have been the presumptive nominee long before last night.

[oberliner]

24. Primary vs. Caucus

Pretty straightforward.