(Sturgis, South Dakota)
Polls opened at 7 a.m. in South Dakota and Montana this morning, and it's likely that we will see a record turnout in both states, as we have in most others. 
There was a steady stream of voters before noon at the Community Center in Sturgis, the western town now famous for its annual motorcycle rally. These are the final two primaries and we could have a Democratic nominee by later Tuesday night. South Dakotans are thrilled. One in Rapid City who has voted since 1973 was overjoyed at all the excitement and all the time candidates have spent here. "This is the first time since I was eighteen that voters in South Dakota mattered, " said Nancy Sutterer. "We've never had this many candidates here."
There was a steady stream of voters before noon at the Community Center in Sturgis, the western town now famous for its annual motorcycle rally. These are the final two primaries and we could have a Democratic nominee by later Tuesday night. South Dakotans are thrilled. One in Rapid City who has voted since 1973 was overjoyed at all the excitement and all the time candidates have spent here. "This is the first time since I was eighteen that voters in South Dakota mattered, " said Nancy Sutterer. "We've never had this many candidates here."
One of the families I enjoyed meeting were the Mesteths of Rapid City. They are Oglala Sioux and have lived on reservations. Lori Mesteth is backing Hillary Clinton, no matter what. "She's a woman, and she and her husband have both visited the reservation," Said Mesteth. "They were doing a good job when he was in office," she added. Mesteth said her concerns go well beyond Native American issues. She liked the fact that the federal budget was balanced during the Clinton presidency and that health care was improving. "She's a strong woman, and that is one of the very first things I see about her," she says. "She's a good role model for my daughters." Her fourteen-year-old daughter talked her into attending a Clinton rally. Mesteth and her two daughters support Clinton, but her three sons are backing Obama. So is it a family feud at home? "No," she says. "It's a split family, but as long as they are interested, I don't care," she adds.
Malcom Chapman is the President of the Rapid City City Council. He is thrilled by the turnout and having a strong final primary. "I've been telling people, we're just as important as the other 49 states," said Chapman, as he urged people to get out and vote.
Another Clinton backer here heading out to cast her vote, was Judy Hansen. "I think she's the real deal. I think she's honest, and she knows what she's doing. I think Obama will be a great president in eight years, maybe twelve," Hansen says.
I am heading to Montana to speak with voters there. Check back later today for updates at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.
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