In South Dakota, John McCain has opened a seventeen point lead over Barack Obama. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds McCain with 54% of the vote and Obama with 37% (see crosstabs).

That’s a big change from July when the Democrat had pulled to within four points in this traditionally Republican state. In March, McCain led Obama by ten.

A similar pattern was found in the neighboring states of Montana and North Dakota. All three were mentioned as part of Obama’s effort to expand the Electoral College map but McCain has now opened a double digit lead in all three.

Nationally, the race remains very close in both the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and the Electoral College projections.

McCain is now viewed favorably by 65% of South Dakota voters, up three points since July.

Obama earns positive reviews from 47%, down seven points since July.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is viewed favorably by 62% while 41% say the same about Barack Obama’s running mate, Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) say that McCain made the right choice in picking Palin for the Republican ticket. Just 32% say that Obama made the right choice.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) say that Palin is politically conservative while 52% say that Biden is politically liberal.

President Bush won 60% of the vote in South Dakota four years ago, but just 38% now say he is doing a good or excellent job.

Rasmussen Markets data now shows gave McCain to be a slight favorite for victory in November. These figures are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants and currently give McCain a % chance of victory. Expectations for Obama are at %. Prior to this past week, expectations for a Democratic victory had generally been in the 60% range.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.