Wow, I've just gotten my SIXTH call of the day from both candidates here in South Dakota!

[liberalhistorian]

Most were robocalls, but a couple of them were actually live persons. We're not used to this kind of attention from presidential candidates here in SD, since our primaries are usually last, with the nominee long since decided by the time our turn rolls around, and we're not really all that important in the GE.

Yet this past week has seen Bill, Hillary, Chelsea and Obama make several appearances throughout the state. Hubby and I saw Obama in Rapid City on Saturday, and Bill is speaking two hours away from us tonight, in Aberdeen. And the calls have been relentless, both robo and real.

I just spoke with a Hillary caller and we actually had a civil, respectful discussion. I explained that I was firmly in Obama's camp, but I appreciated his right to vote his way and that I would work for her in the GE if she were the nominee. He explained why he was for Hillary and said that he sure wished I'd change my mind, that they were out working hard for Hillary. I just said that that wasn't going to happen in the primaries, but that I well understood how much work went into campaigns, having been a volunteer many times at all levels, that it was good he was involved and I reiterated that, while I was voting for Obama tomorrow, I would vote for Hillary in the GE if she were the nominee. I wish that's the way it could be on DU, too!!

[stray cat]

1. How do you think it will play out in SD?

[liberalhistorian]

2. I think Obama will win both SD and Montana,

but his margin will be larger in Montana. Hillary still has significant support in SD, and Indian Country, a major voting bloc in this state, is divided between the two of them.

[stray cat]

3. Thanks for your perspective - hope you are right

[BlooInBloo]

4. (can't stop laughing at all that FL and MI missed out on)

[liberalhistorian]

5. LOL!

nt

[woolldog]

6. there was a poll released to day that had Clinton up 26 points.

Just from what you've seen on the ground, do you think that's realistic?

Has Obama spent much time in South Dakota?

What are your neighbors acquaintances saying about this race? Do you expect high turnout?

Must be nice to be getting so much attention in South Dakota!

[liberalhistorian]

7. I'm not sure that that's realistic and I have a hard

time believing it. Obama's been here a lot, we saw him in person in Rapid City on Saturday. He's been visiting the reservations, too, and Ethel and Maxwell Kennedy visited the Pine Ridge reservation on behalf of Obama forty years to the day that Bobby Kennedy visited there and was so shocked by the grinding third world conditions (which frankly haven't changed much since that time). But the Clintons have been here a lot, also, Bill's been all over the state the last several days.

I don't know about turnout, it's really hard to tell.

[WA98296]

8. How was the Rapid City event? :-)

[LiberalAndProud]

9. Just got off the phone with my daughter-in-law (SD)

She says she and all of her friends are voting for Obama, but her grandparents are voting for Hillary. Suprised, I asked, "Your grandparents are Democrats?" She said no, that they are crossing over to vote against Obama, because he's going to make them stop driving SUVs, and they'll be DAMNED if they will!

On a brighter note in the cross-over column, her best friend, who is anti-choice, is also crossing over -- to vote for Obama. Unlike the grandparents, she will stay long enough to vote in the General Election for Obama.

So that's one report "from the ground".

[XemaSab]

10. It's like the One Ring

You get a taste of the power, and before you know it you're pressuring the state to move you up before Iowa.

Than you get stripped of all your delegates, and wind up a wasted and pitiful creature like James Carville. :P