Here's a round up of some of the information regarding the last ditch efforts of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in South Dakota.
Chet Brokaw has an AP piece on recent events.
The voters of South Dakota look a lot like those who have favored Hillary Rodham Clinton in presidential primaries this year, but her rival, front-runner Barack Obama, has plenty of friends in high places in this rural state.
Not quite the stone faces atop Mount Rushmore. But most Democrats who've won statewide elections, past and present, in predominantly Republican South Dakota have endorsed Obama. These include former Sens. George McGovern, himself the Democratic presidential nominee in 1972, and Tom Daschle, the ex-Senate majority leader, and both Democrats now in Congress, Sen. Tim Johnson and Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin. (snip)
The state is 88 percent white, consistently ranks last in the nation in annual average wages and has the eighth-largest percentage of residents older than 65. Clinton has handily won states with electorates like this, most recently Kentucky and West Virginia.
No independent polls have been released in recent weeks, and both campaigns call the South Dakota race close.
"It's really, really hard to tell which way it's going to go," said Elizabeth Smith, a political science professor at the University of South Dakota.
Via the Rapid City Journal, there is some disagreement in Democratic ranks as to whether party leaders should endorse candidates in a party primary.
State Democratic Chairman Jack Billion of Sioux Falls, National Committeeman Nick Nemec of Holabird and National Committeewoman Sharon Stroschein of Aberdeen have endorsed Obama. State Vice-Chairwoman Cheryl Chapman of Rapid City, who is also the Democratic Party's chairwoman in Pennington County, didn't endorse a candidate and won't say who she supports leading up to the June 3 primary vote.
"I just think it is important that party officers, whether it's at a county or state level, remain neutral in a primary process," said Chapman, whose husband, Malcom, is a Clinton supporter.
Finally, some details are emerging about Obama's trip to Aberdeen on Saturday:
Barack Obama will be in Aberdeen on Saturday. He will host a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Arena. Doors will open are 3:30 p.m.. Obama will take questions from the audience after his opening remarks. (snip)
The Obama event is free and open to the public. However tickets are required. Tickets can be picked up from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Obama's Aberdeen office, 12 Second Ave. S.E.
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