MT Poll: Rounds Creaming Rhoden; Nelson Surging; Bosworth Bombs

As usual, margin of error is somewhere between the size of Stace Nelson and the Bosworth family RV. But until Nielson Brothers makes some more calls, here's what we can divine about the GOP race:

1. In the week of his announcement, the prettiest candidate on TV (seriously, look at Rhoden: rugged jaw, better hair than Rounds and Weiland put together... now if he'd just grow back the mustache!) can't break a quarter of the vote head to head against Rounds.
2. In the fantasy four-way, Stace Nelson, the ugliest candidate on TV is neck-and-neck with the richest candidate. This result shows that, compared with the Madville Times crowded-pool poll from spring, Rounds stays consistent over 40%, while Nelson appears to pick up more of the vote that would have gone to Noem and Napoli, who have since indicated the Senate race is not for them. In a race that tight, every vote matters... and both the Rhoden RINO heat shield and the Bosworth sideshow could save Rounds's skin.
3. Annette Bosworth, who gets more press from this blog than from any other media outlet, whose supporters ought to be saying, "That no-good Madville Times is running a poll? We'll fix him!" gets 2% and can't beat "Someone else."

Numbers like these won't help Stace Nelson decide between Senate and House. These numbers suggest Nelson could compete with Rounds. But the Nielson Brothers numbers from last month suggest Kristi Noem is weaker than Rounds. Ken Santema thinks Nelson should run for House to set himself up for a 2018 gubernatorial run. I'm inclined to urge Nelson for House as well; he could build synergy with Rhoden if Rhoden is running to win. These numbers suggest that Nelson would have to pull Rhoden along for a bit... and that Rhoden would do well to embrace that pull.

Thanks for voting, dear readers, and for providing us all this fun data to play with over breakfast!