A new poll shows 62 percent of South Dakota voters approve of the job Kristi Noem is doing as governor.
The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed 500 South Dakotan's via phone. Half the surveys were conducted by cell phone. There’s a margin of error of 4.4 percent.
Dan Lederman is the chair of the South Dakota GOP. He says the poll reflects her response to COVID-19
“At a time when a lot of governor’s pushed for locking down their states, she kept it open,” Lederman says. “She let the people make their own decisions. That’s something that will continue to keep working in her favor for the public. Because the constituents, the voters, are smart. They see that they’re given the drivers seat in how things are ran.”
Public Opinion Strategies considers itself the country’s largest Republican survey and research firm. According to the poll, Noem has a 66 percent approval rating East river, and a 53 percent approval rating West river.
South Dakota Democrats are questioning the poll.
Randy Seiler is chair of the state Democratic party.
“I wonder if the poll was taken before she authorized the spending of 1.5 million dollars in South Dakota tax payer dollars for what, in effect, was a campaign appearance for President Trump and herself at Mt. Rushmore on July 3rd.”
The poll was conducted in late June.
The use of future fund dollars was first reported in the beginning of July. At least $350,000 is already committed from that fund to pay the fireworks vendor.
The state says it expect to spend $1.5 million on the event, but estimates the media exposure carried an equivalent of $22 million dollars in advertising value.