==NEW===
GEOGRAPHIC DIVIDE IN U.S. SENATE RACE
A Valley News Live KVLY/KFYR Election poll shows that if the North Dakota Senate race were held today, Heidi Heitkamp holds a very slim 47%-46% lead over likely Republican nominee Rick Berg (who is leading his primary race against Duane Sands by a wide 76%-16% margin).
While both candidates receive overwhelming backing from voters who identify themselves with their respective political parties, Heitkamp remains competitive based on her 51%-36% lead over Berg among self-described independent voters.
There is a significant geographic divide in this contest, with Heitkamp winning a majority of the vote in Cass County and Eastern North Dakota and Berg carrying the Bismarck-Mandan area and the rest of Western North Dakota.
REGION HEITKAMP BERG UNDECIDED
Fargo/Cass County 53% 39% 8%
Eastern North Dakota 52% 36% 12%
Bismarck/Mandan 38% 57% 5%
Western North Dakota 40% 55% 5%
WATCH A DISCUSSION OF THE POLL RESULTS ON 6:30 POINT OF VIEW ON KXJB 4. Joel Heitkamp and Chris Berg face off on this year's biggest political race.
MEN, WOMEN, DIFFER IN SENATE RACE
SEX HEITKAMP BERG UNDECIDED
Men 43% 52% 5%
Women 50% 41% 9%
UPDATE: Campaigns weigh in on our poll. Click here to view
MORE ABOUT THE POLL
NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF OUR POLL
==ORIGINAL STORY ===
POLL SHOWS HEITKAMP WITH SLIM LEAD
The latest polling in the North Dakota U.S. Senate race shows Democrat Heidi Heitkamp holding a very slim lead over likely Republican nominee Rick Berg. Just 7% of likely November voters in our polls say they have not yet made up their minds. The poll was conducted for KVLY and KFYR Television by Mason-Dixon Polling Group.
QUESTION: If the 2012 election for North Dakota's U.S. Senate seat were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were Heidi Heitkamp, the Democrat, and Rick Berg, the Republican?
| HEITKAMP |
47% |
| BERG |
46% |
| UNDECIDED |
7% |
A total of 625 registered voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. All stated they were likely to vote in the November general election.
QUESTION: If the 2012 election for North Dakota's U.S. Senate seat were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were Heidi Heitkamp, the Democrat, and Duane Sand, the Republican?
| HEITKAMP |
46% |
| SAND |
38% |
| UNDECIDED |
16% |
This poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday or this week. The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than ±4%.
QUESTION: If the 2012 Republican primary for North Dakota's U.S. Senate seat were held today, would you vote for Rick Berg or Duane Sand?
| BERG |
73% |
| SAND |
16% |
| UNDECIDED |
11% |
INDEPENDENT VOTERS
While both candidates receive overwhelming backing from voters who identify themselves with their respective political parties, Heitkamp remains competitive based on her 51%-36% lead over Berg among self-described independent voters.
INDEPENDENT VOTERS
| HEITKAMP |
51% |
| BERG |
36% |
| UNDECIDED |
13% |
Not surprisingly, Heitkamp is ahead among women, while Berg leads with men.
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