[DWPittelli]

He doesn't mention the apparent fact that every man and woman in the county, save approximately two, are registered to vote. This blatant fraud MUST be prosecuted, or our entire system of government is a sham.

I agree that Shannon County merits investigation, but given that the county has a 2001 census estimated population of 12,783 it is certainly not impossible that 3,118 people voted.

We don't want to look like Sore-Loserman 2000 by going off half-cocked on this. It should be done professionally and without shrillness, especially since there is a special election in Louisiana on Dec. 7th that the Republicans will likely win if they can avoid turning off the middle with such tactics.

In short, let the investigation proceed, and perhaps we'll see the Dems hang themselves on this. (I'm about to post a related article if it isn't here already.)

[Steven W.]

you should send this analysis to Byron York and to 'info@johnthune.com'

[Steven W.]

PS - Americans will not be turned off by a request for a recount in such a close race, particularly given Thunes' gracious stance thus far and the prior reports of fraud. SERIOUSLY - the margin here is so small as to be reversed by simple recount alone. The further potential for excluding fraud could make a change in margin significant.

[AFPhys]

We don't want to look like Sore-Loserman 2000 by going off half-cocked on this. It should be done professionally and without shrillness, especially since there is a special election in Louisiana on Dec. 7th that the Republicans will likely win if they can avoid turning off the middle with such tactics.

I agree, and I hope and pray that is the way we all can proceed on this. So far, it appears that is the approach Thune and the Republicans (and the media so far) are taking.

[JasonC]

It is surprising to an outsider, not from the state, certainly. The turnout % is lowest on the Indian reservations, and the Dem % of vote is highest in the same places. If you look at registrations by party, there does not seem to be any great suppression of potential Thune votes - maybe a few hundred, but not more than that (There were only around 500 voters in the Republican primary, e.g.). The Dem vote is around 85% of active registered Dems.

I would want to check how "clean" the voter rolls are. It is possible there is just a lot of apathy among the Indians there, with some committed Dems but many apolitical. It is also possible there is a lot of "padding" in the registrations, in the form of leftovers still on the rolls. The country certainly stands out as anamolous in the state, but that may reflect genuinely different political behavior by county residents.

It merits a look, but not wild accusations...