Leslee Unruh, campaign manager of VoteYesForLife.com, insists the ban is essential to protect women's health, and argues that most abortions are coerced by male partners who seek to exploit women. Unruh runs a support group for "post-abortive" women, like herself, who were traumatized by the procedure.

The abortion ban so dominates the political debate in South Dakota, you'd hardly know there's a general election on Nov. 7.

"Vote Yes on 6" signs far outnumber "Rounds for Governor" signs.

"This is all the candidates are talking about, instead of worrying about education and other pressing problems," said state Sen. Stan Adelstein, a long-time legislator who — like three other moderate Republicans who voted against the ban — was beaten in the June primaries by a conservative Christian.

Adelstein, who co-chairs the Campaign for Healthy Families, is organizing four Democratic Senate campaigns.

"My party needs to get back to focusing on true Republican issues — keeping government out of people's lives, economic growth, education of gifted children and diversity of lifestyle and faith," said Adelstein, who is Jewish. "The only way to get people like me back in power is to throw the scoundrels out."

Neither side in the abortion campaign will say how much money has been raised. They acknowledge that donations are coming in from outsiders as well as from South Dakotans.

VoteYesForLife.com's pink-and-blue signs seem to be everywhere. The Campaign for Healthy Families said distribution of its lawn signs would start this weekend. But some supporters of abortion rights in South Dakota believe most people who share their views are in the closet.

"You don't see any businesses with 'Vote No' signs in their windows," said John Thies, 22, who works in a record store in Sioux Falls. "This is a conservative community. If you hold different views you're not going to advertise them for fear people will take their business elsewhere."

Nevertheless, polls Polls show the "No" side ahead. A statewide survey run by the Argus Leader newspaper and KELO-TV in late July found that 47 percent of South Dakotans were against the ban, 39 percent support it, and 14 percent were undecided. A majority of the opposed and undecided said they would support a ban that allowed exceptions for rape and incest. The ban is on hold pending the outcome of the referendum.

South Dakota allows citizens to refer legislation to the general electorate in the form of ballot initiatives.

Opponents of the abortion ban collected some 38,000 signatures — more than twice the number necessary — to put the law on the ballot in an attempt to repeal it.

"We refer anything that pisses us off," said Kevin Woster, a veteran political reporter. "This kind of citizen government is a big part of who we are."