Berg Leads Heitkamp in New N.D. Poll By Julie Sobel October 20, 2012 | 11:35 a.m. After months of polls showing a dead heat in North Dakota's Senate race, a new survey conducted for Forum Communications Co. shows GOP Rep. Rick Berg breaking out with a 10-point lead. The poll, conducted by Essman/Research, has Berg leading former Democratic Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, 50 percent to 40 percent. Ten percent of respondents say they remain undecided. Heitkamp has a slight advantage among independents (44 percent to 41 percent for Berg), while 15 percent remain undecided. "I think the biggest takeaway from...