Poll comparison

According to a paragraph from a March 17, 2002 report by David Kranz, the dean of South Dakota political reporters, John Thune led Senator Tim Johnson in the polls 49% to 43%. Senator Johnson, of course, went on to win that race by 524 votes. Comparing the March 2002 poll to the latest poll in this year's Daschle v. Thune race is illuminating. The latest poll, published last week, and conducted on March 27 and 28, shows Daschle leading Thune 48% to 43%, numbers that look remarkably similar to the numbers in March of 2002. So if history is any guide, John Thune will overcome Daschle's lead and squeak out a victory, much as Tim Johnson did to Thune in 2002.