Shannon County is 94% Native American, has a median income of just $20,916 (versus a statewide median of $35,282), and has a 52.3% poverty rate; a 92% win for Johnson isn’t too surprising. But Hamlin County is 94% white, has a median income of $33,851 (just below the state median), and has a poverty rate of only 12%. Hamlin County actually went for Thune by 23 votes, 1444 to 1421. (Here are the county-by-county results.)
If there were dirty tricks by the Dems, Shannon County would be the place to do it. Who would notice if 60%, 70%, or 80% for Johnson suddenly became 92%?
So far, Thune has handled these wrinkles quite well. Although a recount won’t be held until November 25, there is reason to believe that South Dakotans are tolerant of these matters and that their patience would not be tested: in 1962, George McGovern won under similar circumstances (no word on whether McGovern was ahead or behind before the recount, however).
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