¶ … South Dakota and its elections of 2004.The entire discussion in the paper will be based on the factors, which are involved in the Senate elections of the South Dakota. This topic, South Dakota Senate Race 2004 will be analyzed and previewed by discussing four areas: Voting history and important political demographics of the state.

Candidate characteristics strengths and weaknesses for each of the Major Candidates.

Emerging issues in the state that will likely determine the outcome of the election

Propose a winning scenario for each of the major candidates.

Welcome 2004 Voters!

These are the four major areas, which will be presented in the paper so as to present the whole scenario of elections to the readers. These four parts are the major factors, which are included in the election process of South Dakota. Therefore, a complete discussion and analysis of these factors will provide the readers with all the relevant details and essential information regarding the Senate elections of South Dakota. Recent researches have shown that South Dakota has been considerably given importance these days because of on going senate elections in the country. These elections have become the central point of discussion and attention for the people all around the world. Especially for those individuals, who are interested in political affairs of the world, they are desperately waiting for the results.

VOTING HISTORY AND IMPORTANT POLITICAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE:

South Dakota is famous for the scenic wonders of the Badlands, the Black Hills, and, of course, Mt. Rushmore. Prairie, grassland, and farmland cover 90% of the state, where buffalo once ranged in herds of thousands. Dynamic historical figures like Lewis and Clark, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Sitting Bull, and General George Custer have all added to the colorful past of South Dakota. When Custer's military band found gold in the Black Hills in 1874,-word of the discovery reached back east to Chicago, and the Gold Rush followed. By 1876, prospecting towns like Dead Tree Gulch exploded with fortune seekers lured by the glitter of gold. Today, gold continues to be mined in the state, an South Dakota has also been referred to as "The Land of Plenty" and "The Land of Infinite Variety." When both North and South Dakota are the subject, they are sometimes referred to as The Twin Sisters, South Dakota's Homestake Mine remains one of the largest gold producers in the U.S. People who live in South Dakota or who come from South Dakota are called South Dakotans. North and South Dakota were one territory until 1889. Dakota was named for the Dakota, Sioux tribe which lived in the region. Dakota is the Sioux word for "friends" or allies." http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/sd_intro.htm

South Dakota is mostly famous for the scenic wonders of the Badlands and important political demographic of the state identifies the fact that there are 17,23 people and 7210 households. The statistics regarding the population of South Dakota states that women members in the country as compared to the male members with in the country, the voting history regarding the elections of 2004 states that the voters are requested to give their opinions through their votes. There are several methodologies, which are followed by the administration that are responsible for collection and counting of votes. Paper ballot and punch card are the two main strategies through which votes are collected and recorded.

Paper Ballot: A paper ballot system employs uniform official ballots of various stock weights on which the names of all candidates and issues are printed. Voters record their choices by marking the boxes next to the candidate or issue choice they select and drop the voted ballot in a sealed ballot box. Punch card systems employ a card (or cards) and a small clipboard-sized device for recording votes. Voters punch holes in the cards, with a punch device, opposite their candidate or ballot issue choice. After voting, the voter may place the ballot in a ballot box, or the ballot may be fed into a computer vote-tabulating device at the precinct. Two common types of punch cards are the "Votomatic" card and the "Datavote" card. With the Votomatic card, the locations at which holes may be punched to indicate votes are each assigned numbers. The number of the hole is the only information printed on the card. The list of candidates or ballot issue choices and directions for punching the corresponding holes are printed in a separate booklet. With the Datavote card, the name of the candidate or description of the issue choice is printed...

All voters will be required to provide identification before voting or obtaining an absentee ballot. The personal identification that may be presented shall be either: a South Dakota driver's license or non-driver identification card, a passport of identification card, including a picture, issued by an agency of the United States government, a tribal identification card, including a picture, or an identification card, including a picture, issued by an accredited institution of higher education, including a university, college, or technical school, located within the state of South Dakota. If the voter is not able to present personal identification, the voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification." http://www.congress.org/congressorg/e4/voterinfo/?state=sd
The voters are of the opinion that they will select that candidate who will be responsible in his duty. The voters want a leader and a representative who would give importance to the opinions of the people on the whole. The government has declared deadlines regarding the voting process. The deadline for registering to vote in South Dakota is May 17, 2004 for the Primary Election. The deadline for registering to vote in the General Election is October 18, 2004.These deadlines are important for the voters so tat they can give their opinion through casting their votes.

The researches and latest news regarding the South Dakota elections declares that amongst the two major candidates. The voters have given more votes to Tom Daschle than John Thune.But the situation can be changed at any time. According to the result it looks like the people of South Dakota have more confidence on Tom Daschle than John Thune.The administration and the government of the South Dakota have given special importance to the voters because according to them the voters re the important factoring making a decision and therefore these voters should be given special importance so that a fair decision can be made regarding the election of a suitable candidate for the senate in South Dakota. According to the authorities they are of the opinion that a fair election process should take place in the country so as to avoid any difficulty and complexities after selecting the candidate. As the selected candidate will be according to the views and opinions of the people than such an individual would also be answerable to the people who have selected him and has given him the responsibility of running the affairs of the senate in South Dakota.

The authorities are also watching the activities of the candidates during the process of election. They are strictly ordered not to follow any illegal way of becoming a representative of the senate of South Dakota. All in all, it can be rightly said that the fate of the candidates are in the hands of the voters. The more the votes a candidate will get the more chances of becoming a representative of the senate will be increased.

CANDIDATES CHARACTERISTICS, STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES FOR EACH OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES:

One of the closest U.S. Senate races in South Dakota history remained in unceremonious limbo early this morning, with a paper-thin voting margin between incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson and Republican John Thune.Thune had 50% of the vote to 49% for Johnson with 715 out of 844 precincts counted, sending a race that has sustained a fevered pace for months into overtime. On one level, this match has been about two generally well-liked South Dakota natives who have disparate visions. On another, it was key contest in the fight to control the U.S. Senate, where Majority Leader Tom Daschle held hopes that the mid-term elections would increase his margin. The race remained one of a handful in the nation that were nail-biting close, with Republicans needing only one more seat to take away Daschle's control. They got that just after 1 a.m. when Jean Carnahan of Missouri conceded defeat to Republican Jim Talent. That made South Dakota's result moot to Daschle's control of the Senate, but left beleaguered supporters of both candidates waiting anxiously for results. Many of the president's principal proposals in Congress have run into roadblocks put up by Daschle and the Senate Democrats. That includes plans for a prescription drug benefit for seniors, judicial appointments and Bush's plans for a Department of Homeland Security.His best hope to break the gridlock, Bush said, is to help Republicans take leadership of the Senate. Thune is among the key candidates that Bush handpicked. During his Sunday visit to Sioux Falls, Bush made it clear he would expect Thune's…