New Poll

Here's the results of a new poll about GOP Governor Mike Rounds:

A question about the Republican governor's popularity was included in a statewide telephone poll of 500 likely voters. If the response is any indication, Rounds seems a cinch to win a second four-year term.

With an error margin of plus or minus 4.38 percent, the March 13 and 14 poll taken on behalf of a coalition of health groups pushing for higher taxes on tobacco found that Rounds' appeal crosses party lines in broad strokes. He had 89 percent approval from Republicans, 78 percent from Democrats and 80 percent from people registering as independent voters.

Few politicians are fortunate enough to have such hefty numbers.

History, too, is on Rounds' side. There have been only five Democratic governors since statehood in 1889. It has been three decades since the last Democrat held the top office.