The two pro-life candidates for the U.S. House in North Dakota and South Dakota are leading their respective races against pro-abortion incumbents.
Republican Kristi Noem has a lead over Democratic incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin in South Dakota while Republican challenger Rick Berg leads pro-abortion Democratic Congressman Earl Pomeroy in North Dakota.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of likely voters in South Dakota finds Noem, a state legislator, picking up 49% of the vote, while Herseth-Sandlin draws support from 44%. Another two percent prefer some other candidate and five percent are undecided.
“Earlier this month, Noem moved to a 47% to 44% edge after slipping behind in September. Since winning the GOP Primary in June, Noem has been slightly ahead of Herseth-Sandlin in every survey but one with 45% to 53% support,” Rasmussen indicated. “The incumbent has earned 41% to 47% of the vote in that same period and held a slight lead only once, 47% to 45% in early September.”
Herseth-Sandlin was elected to Congress in 2004 following the resignation of GOP Congressman Bill Janklow. In the current session, she has just a 33 percent pro-life voting record, according to the National Right to Life Committee.
Although Herseth-Sandlin was one of the few members of Congress to vote against the pro-abortion ObamaCare bill, she has supported abortion funding in other instances.
Meanwhile, Rasmussen’s survey of likely voters in North Dakota finds Berg with 52% support. Pomeroy, a member of the House since 1993 who has a longstanding pro-abortion voting record, picks up 42% support. One percent (1%) favor some other candidate in the race, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
“A month ago, Berg held just a 48% to 45% lead. Berg, a businessman and state legislator, has been ahead of Pomeroy in surveys since February with support ranging from 46% to 53%. Support for the incumbent in those same surveys has remained in the narrow range of 43% to 46%,” Rasmussen noted.
The candidates held their third and final debate last Friday and, unless something substantial happens between now and election day, Berg appears to be headed to victory.
The NRLC voting records indicate Pomeroy has just a 16 percent pro-life voting score.
