Marty Jackley has a commanding lead in the Republican primary among voters who responded to a recent Mason-Dixon poll.

But polling data this early in a campaign can be misleading. Today's Dakota Political Junkies discuss how polls are reported by journalists and leveraged by candidates.

We begin with the race for U.S. House, then move on to the campaign for governor of South Dakota, where Governor Larry Rhoden is in a statistical tie with Rep. Dusty Johson, according to the poll.

Card and Hunter also tackle the political consequences of the government shutdown. We ask: When U.S. Senator John Thune gives an impassioned speech on the floor of the senate (to a mostly empty chamber) is that an act of political theater or political leadership?

Our analysts today are Jon Hunter and Michael Card, Ph.D.

Hunter is publisher emeritus of the Madison Daily Leader. Hunter is also a member of the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame. Card is professor emeritus in political science at the University of South Dakota.