Press "Enter" to skip to content

PPP: Boost Name Recognition, Talk Medicare and Ryan Budget, and Weiland Beats Rounds

Bob Mercer reports that Democrats continue to abandon ship in South Dakota. But they aren't abandoning Rick Weiland. A new Public Policy Polling Survey finds that the Democratic candidate for South Dakota's open Senate seat is just ten percentage points behind GOP frontrunner Marion Michael Rounds.

According to PPP, an election held today would produce these results:

  • Mike Rounds: 38%
  • Rick Weiland: 28%
  • Larry Pressler: 15%
  • Gordon Howie: 4%

PPP's survey differs markedly from the survey conducted by Nielson Brothers Polling in June 2013. Then, NBP found Rounds had 92% name recognition while Weiland had just 50%. PPP now puts Rounds's recognition at 87% and Weiland's at 67%. A 17% boost in name recognition isn't a bad payoff for one trip to every town in South Dakota. Doing that trip again this summer, in beautiful sunny door-knocking and parade-marching weather, plus the inevitable increased media coverage, should bring Weiland to parity with Rounds.

Now let's combine those rising recognition numbers with the 15% of undecided voters above. According to PPP, Weiland leads Rounds (say it again, enjoy it: Weiland leads Rounds!) 38 to 36 among people who know Weiland's name. Weiland draws a better favorable/unfavorable ratio than Rounds (36 to 30 vs. 41 to 41). And to splop ice cream on top of Weiland's pie, PPP found that telling voters about the issues wins Rick votes:

On several issues that will be key in this race, voters side with Weiland’s view over Rounds’ by a wide margin. After being read a description of each candidate’s views on Medicare, South Dakotans say they agree more with Weiland’s position by a 15 point margin, 45/30. And when it comes to the Ryan budget 53% of voters say they side more with Weiland’s point of view, compared to only 29% who go with Rounds.

On both of the issues the independent voters who will be key to Weiland’s campaign overwhelmingly side with his perspective- 53/26 on the Medicare issue and 62/20 on the Ryan budget one [Tom Jensen, "Rounds Stuck Under 40%, Issues Play Well for Weiland," Public Policy Polling, 2014.05.07].

When voters get to know Weiland, they pick him over Rounds. When voters get to know Weiland's policies, they pick him over Rounds. And Weiland's policies on Medicare and the Ryan budget are straight-up Democratic policies, not apologetic Blue-Doggery. Weiland's daylight is to keep doing exactly what he's doing, but more! Run to daylight, Rick... and keep singing!

14 Comments

  1. Bree S. 2014.05.07

    At least PPP wasn't kissing Weiland's butt with sappy commentary in the write up, like POS did for Rounds.

  2. grudznick 2014.05.07

    Just say "Obamacare" and the libbies lose.

  3. Bree S. 2014.05.07

    Not gonna work with Rounds.

  4. rick 2014.05.07

    Considering Rounds' name ID and Pressler being viewed as a has-been seeking a comeback, I'd be worried if I were Dick Wadhams. Mike should be cresting beyond 45 percent at this point considering all the ads he's put up.

    Hey Stace!!! Wake the hell up, dude. Time to grab the bat and put that fake away. Walk tall! Your moment to shine is less than four weeks away. Daylight is burning.

  5. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.05.07

    Rick says "Affordable Care Act" and goes one better, saying the ACA doesn't get the job done and proposing Medicare (which folks love) as a public option (which folks will love).

  6. grudznick 2014.05.07

    Isn't Mr. Weiland all bound up arguing with that minister fellow that blogs here about butt sex? That's not good for the vote. I submit the minister may be a minion just doing the orders that come down from the steering committee of the GOP.

  7. Roger Cornelius 2014.05.07

    grudz,

    That is Dr. Kevin Weiland, Rick's brother, that has taken issue with butt sex and fecal obsession expert Rev. Hickey.

  8. Nick Nemec 2014.05.07

    15% undecided and polling at 38% doesn't look good for a two term former governor. He doesn't have much upside. If he goes negative on anyone in an attempt to lower their numbers his alleged good guy candy coated outer image melts away and the inner insurance agent nasty gunk will be exposed.

  9. grudznick 2014.05.07

    Sorry, Mr. C. I got those two fellows mixed up. Thank you for the correction. Though I am still indeed tired of all the butt sex talk from both sides.

  10. owen reitzel 2014.05.07

    "Just say "Obamacare" and the libbies lose."

    Maybe if more people actually learn about the ACA the'll be for it. Unless that person is a hardcore right-winger.

  11. MJL 2014.05.08

    Grudz- Believe me we all are. If Hickey would only let it go.

  12. Jerry 2014.05.08

    Obamacare will save 900 Billion! Even public traded hospital groups are singing praises for Obamacare. The only ones who are not are Rounds, Nelson and the rest of the clowns in the car. Hospitals are seeing the difference after just one quarter and their bottom line is getting much better! http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/05/how-reform-is-boosting-nashvilles-public-hospital.html

    Here in South Dakota, we just want to kill our working poor a slow death. Kind of like Oklahoma, but a little different than death row.

  13. Bree S. 2014.05.08

    Oh, Rounds sings praises for Obamacare. Quietly in his closet.

  14. Jerry 2014.05.08

    Good place for him to stay would be in the closet. What helps Weiland is that he knows how to read reports that business are putting out. As long as the establishment here is hell bent on punishing the working poor, they do not have time to check on those things that matter. The more you know, the more you have to respect what Obamacare is doing across the board.

Comments are closed.