By Denise Ross

Of all the meaty, juicy political news going on, this above all blows my fragile little mind. South Dakota has gone blue. So says Gallup.

This map says the Rushmore state is “competitive” when it comes to partisan loyalties - meaning we are essentially split.

 When it comes to party affiliation (not to be confused with registration), Dems hold a 1-point advantage in South Dakota, according to Gallup’s study.

 As recently as 2002, a majority of states were Republican in orientation. By 2005, movement in the Democratic direction was becoming apparent, and this continued in 2006. That dramatic turnaround is clearly an outgrowth of Americans’ dissatisfaction with the way the Republicans (in particular, President George W. Bush) governed the country.

One could sense SD Democrats gaining in strength and organization, and I attributed much of that to what’s often referred to as the “Howard Dean money,” where the state party got some staff. And I attributed it to bubbling anger amongst liberals over the Bush/Cheney administration coupled with the organizing that went on to fight the 2006 abortion ban. The Dems around the state had both the motivation and the support to organize and recruit.

What I didn’t anticipate was the GOP weakening. Sure, the party structure itself could use a heavy dose of TLC, but I thought the rank and file party registrants would stand firm. Maybe not.

There’s something in this study that does not bode well for either party. A huge plurality in every state - and sometimes a majority - identify themselves as independents. Hoghouse Blog can relate. While Gallup doesn’t make the connection between the two, I suspect a relationship between this phenomenon and what Gallup describes as a political climate that can shift quickly.

Any Republicans out there worried about this? Any Dems walking on air?

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