PIERRE, S.D. – A new statewide poll shows Governor Larry Rhoden with a significant lead in South Dakota’s race for governor less than two weeks before Election Day.
The South Dakota News Watch poll found the Republican incumbent leading Democratic challenger Dan Ahlers by a margin of 56 percent to 36 percent among likely voters. The survey of 500 voters was conducted October 12th through the 14th by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy.
The poll also found Rhoden with strong favorability and job approval ratings, while Ahlers faces a challenge in statewide name recognition. More than a third of those surveyed said they were unfamiliar with Ahlers, compared to near-universal recognition for the sitting governor.
Political analysts say incumbency and name recognition continue to give Rhoden a major advantage, while Ahlers is working to introduce himself to more voters through campaign appearances and advertising.
The poll found most voters remain aligned with their political parties, although Ahlers held an advantage among independent voters surveyed.
South Dakota’s general election is set for November 3rd, and the voter registration deadline was October 19th.
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