South Dakota Surprise

ON TUESDAY NIGHT Democrat Stephanie Herseth narrowly won a special election in South Dakota. Herseth’s victory coupled with the special election win of Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler in February in Kentucky’s sixth district might give Democrats reason to argue that the results are a rejection of President Bush and a bellwether of what may come in November.

The Democrats do have reason to celebrate. Both Herseth and Chandler won seats in rural voting districts–districts historically held by Republicans–in states carried by Bush in 2000. “Democrats don’t usually win these kind of districts,” says Mark Gersh of the National Committee for an Effective Congress.