[Steely Tom]

Partisan media will spin this as a cliff-hanger right up to the day of the election, and then throughout the day. Will South Dakotans send a message to the White House?

Then, if Diedrich wins, the entire story will instantly be dropped, never to be heard again.

(steely)

[Theodore R.]

You're right, assuming Herseth wins, Tom Brokaw, who grew up in Pickstown and Yankston, SD, will declare the results the "repudiation of the President in the heartland." However, if the Republican candidate wins, there will be no mention of the election on the NBC evening news because "the seat did not change party hadns." And Brokaw still does not understand why many consider his reporting biased.