A majority of rural North Dakotans still don’t know who they’ll vote for when it’s time to pick a new president, according to the North Dakota Prairie Poll. 

But they’re dead certain that they’d give North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven a record third term if the election were held today.

In late June readers of 11 community newspapers in the state were polled regarding their preferred candidates for office in the November General Election. 

While Republican John McCain has a slight lead over Democrat Barack Obama, the “don’t know” vote exceeded the total given either candidate.

Hoeven, meanwhile, the state’s Republican governor, has an overwhelming lead over Democratic challenger Tim Mathern of Fargo.

The same is true for Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, whose support far outstrips that of Republican challenger Duane Sand.

In races for five other state offices, poll results suggest voters don’t have a clue about who they’d vote for.

In four of those five races, well over half of the poll respondents said they don’t know who they’d choose if the election were held today.

In the fifth race, long-time Superintendent of Public Instruction Wayne Sanstead has a comfortable lead over Max Laird, who also challenged for the position in 2004. 

In the presidential races, respondents to the poll give McCain a three-point advantage over Obama. His strongest support is in the Watford City area, where 54 percent of respondents gave him the edge and only 8 percent picked Obama. 

Obama’s strongest support is in the Rolla area, where he is the favorite among 66 percent, and in Lisbon, where 36 percent gave him the nod.

For governor, Hoeven has a commanding lead in all 11 communities. His strongest support came in Crosby, with 86 percent, and Kenmare, with 84 percent. 

Mathern’s strongest support came in the Garrison area, but even there Hoeven held a 62 percent to 22 percent lead.

State Auditor 

Republican incumbent Auditor Bob Peterson has a 39 percent to 8 percent advantage over challenger Jerry Splichal, a Democrat, but 53 percent remain undecided. 

Insurance Commissioner

Republican incumbent Adam Hamm, who was appointed to the post last year, is neck-and-neck with challenger Jasper Schneider, a Democrat, with each getting support from slightly over 22 percent of respondents. But 55 percent remain undecided. 

State Treasurer 

Kelly Schmidt, a Republican, has a comfortable 33 percent to 9 percent lead over Democratic challenger Mitch Vance, with 57 percent undecided.

Public Service Commissioner

There is no incumbent in the race for a seat on the Public Service Commission. At this point, poll respondents give Democrat Cheyl Bergian 24 percent support to 17 percent for Republican Brian Kalk, with 59 percent undecided. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction

In this no-party race, incumbent Wayne Sanstead got the support of 53 percent of the respondents, while Max Laird got 22 percent and 25 percent were undecided. 

The poll is conducted by newspapers located in Carrington, Crosby, Garrison, Grafton, Kenmare, Lisbon, Napoleon, New Town, Rolla, Stanley and Watford

City.

Lisbon Area Results:

Lisbon Area respondents polled had similar results to the Statewide results when asked, “If the presidential election was held today who would be your first choice? Although 32% of those polled said they didn’t know, 36% said they would vote for Barrack Obama while 32% said they would vote for John McCain.

In the race for North Dakota Governor, local voters polled favored Republican incumbent John Hoeven with 72% of the vote while Democratic challenger Tim Mathern received 18% of the vote. The remaining 10% of those polled said they didn’t know who they would vote for.

Democratic incumbent Earl Pomeroy garnered 66% of the local voters polled while Republican challenger Duane Sand received 22%. Another 12% aren’t sure who they would vote for.

The race for State Auditor showed that 44% of the Lisbon Area voters polled had no idea who they would vote for while 36% voted for the incumbent Bob Peterson and 20% voted for challenger Jerry Splichal.

Over half (52%) of the Lisbon Area voters polled didn’t know who they would vote for in the contest between Adam Hamm and Jasper Schneider for the Insurance Commissioner position. Supporters of Adam Hamm numbered 34% while 14% said they would vote for Jasper Schneider.

Kelly Schmidt and Mitch Vance are each trying to secure the State Treasurer’s seat, yet nearly half (48%) the locals who took part in the Dakota Poll said they didn’t know who to vote for. Another 38% said they would vote for Schmidt while 14% said they would vote for Vance.

Lisbon Area participants also weren’t sure who to vote for, for the Public Service Commissioner seat. Just under half (46%) said they just didn’t know while 28% picked Brian Kalk and 26% picked Cheryl Bergian.

Wayne Sanstead gets the majority of respondents votes (72%) for

Superintendent of Public Instruction while Max Laird, who has challenged Sanstead before, received 14% of local respondent’s votes. Another 14% were undecided.

Readers participating in the Prairie Poll in the Gazette’s coverage area include residents of: Enderlin, Forman, Fort Ransom, Gwinner, Lisbon, McLeod, Milnor, and Sheldon.