Scientific polling confirms South Dakota Watch’s earlier semi-scientific polling—the debate about debates between Sen. Tim Johnson and state Rep. Joel Dykstra just doesn’t matter.

So says Virginia Lowell at Badlands Blue.

When asked about Senator Johnson’s decision not to debate, 75 percent of the respondents said that debates were not very important to them and that his decision would not determine their vote. Rather, they said that Senator Johnson’s job performance would determine their vote.

Should debates matter? Yes.

Do they matter in this case? No.

Then to add insult to injury, Johnson increased his lead over Dykstra.

A new poll shows U.S. Senator Tim Johnson gaining support among South Dakota voters, increasing his lead over his opponent to 61 - 34 percent. These numbers are an increase over the last published national poll conducted in July by Rassmussen Polling, which showed Johnson with a 60 - 35 percent lead.

Life is not fair, Joel (and my good friend Pat Powers). You’ll need to find a new issue—quick—if you hope to defeat Sen. Johnson. Which I serenely doubt will happen.

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