South Dakota

On the eve of the final pair of Democratic primaries, a new poll of South Dakota Democrats gives Hillary Clinton a 26-point lead over Barack Obama – a surprise, at least to me, in a state that had the early makings of an Obama stronghold.

The survey, from the independent New Hampshire-based American Research Group, shows Clinton pounding Obama by a 60-34 percent spread. The only previous poll in the state, from about a month ago, had Obama up by 12. Because every other state around South Dakota previously went overwhelmingly for Obama, there had been little expectation in the national press that Clinton would win there.

Not surprisingly, the ARG poll is being greeted with some skepticism. But in a phone conversation a few minutes ago, Dick Bennett, ARG's president, told me that the assumption that South Dakota is Obama country has been flawed from the start.

"The numbers we got are consistent with what we've seen in other states," Bennett said. "The groups that are usually supporting her are supporting her. The people who live there look more like Clinton voters than Obama voters."  read more »

Odd films from the New Hollywood continue to dot the landscape.  read more »

Whatever else may be said about the august legislators of South Dakota, who have arrogated unto them  read more »

Whatever else may be said about the august legislators of South Dakota, who have arrogated unto them  read more »

A story in the New York Times today about a possible ban on abortions in South Dakota and other states brings up an interesting issue for New York.

New York passed a state law legalizing abortion in 1970, three years before Roe v. Wade. It is possible that at some point the legality of abortions will be left to the states, many of which will ban it, making New York a refuge for women seeking the procedure.

—Nicole Brydson

Wednesday, Oct. 22On Thursday, Oct.  read more »

The Virgin of Bennington , by Kathleen Norris.  read more »