Despite spending six years in Congress, Republican John Thune was "not very productive" on Indian issues, the chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of South Dakota tells the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Michael Jandreau, the tribe's longtime leader, says Indian voters will play a key role in the race between former Congressman Thune and incumbent Sen. Tom Daschle, a Democrat. Jandreau expects an additional 10,000 Indian voters will go to the polls.

"And they will support Tom Daschle probably more in opposition to the Republican Party than John Thune," he says.

Indians make up about 8 percent of the state's population. The 2002 Senate election and this summer's special House election showed that Indian voters make a big difference.

Get the Story:
BLACK HILLS BATTLE (PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer 10/20)

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