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North Dakota Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp (D) with gas workers
The dynamic is North Dakota is a mirror opposite of the close Massachusetts senate race. Like Scott Brown (R) in Massachusetts, Hietkamp is personally well likely and that is what is helping to keep the race close. Her favorability rating is an impressive 46 percent favorable to 35 percent unfavorable and is noticeably higher than Berg’s.
The problem for Hietkamp is the top of the ticket and the natural leanings of the state. Mitt Romney has a huge 14 point lead over President Obama in North Dakota. To win Hietkamp is going to need a lot of people splitting their ballot during an election when voters are turned off by the idea of divided government.
Hietkamp is running against some serious headwinds in the state but so far she has managed to do well. North Dakota may end up being the closest Senate race on election night.
10 Comments
Thanks Jon for the post. Seeing polls that evidence significant ticket splitting is encouraging. I would hope that voters vote for people rather than parties. Hopefully third parties will get more voter attention.
If the three lady democrats can win, THAT would be great!!!
You go girl.
here’s some info about the person she’s running against.
I hear her radio ads, they are both funny, and devastating.
I would be amazed if she loses.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/27/1136432/-ND-Sen-Rep-Rick-Berg-R-Goldmark
Where is she on the issues? Why make an appeal if you don’t tell us that? Is she a Blue Dog?
There’s no appeal, Jon is just reporting on the polling. That’s what the Elections site does.
She stands opposed to an anti abortion pro real estate GOPer but she has problems because Obama is at the top of the ticket why?
Obama is to the Left of this guy so is racism a factor?
Polling without context doesn’t help inform us much. I have no clue what issues are important in this race. When Jon talks about other races I have some clue what the big issues are but the North Dakota race has not gotten much press.
I like Jon’s reporting but I would like more information than just the polling.
I’m sure that the dlc is going all out to help her: lots of money, strategic advice, and media ads. The dims are really looking out for the 99%. Probably o wanted her to run so she could win and help provide that dim congressional majority (60% in the Senate) so he could get that “hope” and “change” mojo working.
Cynicism and anger aside, is there any indication that Helkamp would be better than Obama on any of the major issues? Will she fight for jobs, to end drone murders, to implement Medicare for all?
Or is she just another reliable vote for bankster bailouts, fracking, and “targeted tax breaks”? Because in that case, no matter how “caveman” Berg might be, I really couldn’t give any fraction of a damn.
Fair point.