I agree that the threat of a rally would have no effect on the outcome of the trial (nor should it).
But, as I said before:
It would put pressure on the state to clean up it's mess of a judicial system.
It would send a message to other states and people that motorcyclists stick together and won't sit idly by while motorcyclists get killed.
It would encourage the people of SD to elect judges that enforce the law blindly.
Seruzawa - Janklow is the only person South Dakota has in the House of Reps, so he is the rep for Sturgis. I live in Minnesota and have been through Sturgis during the rally twice. Both times, I couldn't get a motel room on I-90 all the way across southern mn, south dakota, or Wyoming. Resturants that usually have 5-10 people in them had lines out the doors. Official estimated attendance of the 2003 rally was 502,000 bikers, in a state that has only 756,000 people. It is not a stretch to say the economy of western south dakota has become dependant on the rally.
When I read statements like "So I doubt the amount of votes that come from Sturgis itself would greatly affect the outcome of the next election.", I start to doubt that you've been to the rally. The rally has grown way, way beyone just Sturgis. I know people that go to the rally that never even step foot inside the town. It should almost be called the black hills rally. You can't find a campground or hotel room within 100 miles that is not full.
I know many people from SD, and if Janklow gets off, I really doubt it will be necessary to send money to Janklow's opponent. There is no way he's getting re-elected.