Democrats are making a surprisingly strong run at this open seat. Their nominee, former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, is running as a centrist who has been vocal about her disagreements with President Obama on any number of issues. The stumbling block for Heitkamp may be the instances in which she has supported the President, which have provided plenty of fodder for Republican television ads against her. The GOP nominee, At-Large U.S. Rep. Rick Berg, is running on a standard Republican platform. And, of course, both candidates claim that only they will do what’s in the state’s best interests.
Polling indicates a very tight contest. A Mason-Dixon poll (October 26-28 of 625 likely voters) gave Berg a two-point advantage, 47 percent to 45 percent for Heitkamp. A Pharos Research Group survey taken at the same time (October 26-28 of 752 likely voters) showed Heitkamp ahead, 50 percent to 48 percent. Call it an even race.
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