After just one term in office, Democrat Sen. Byron Dorgan is a tough incumbent to unseat. In a December poll, 74% rated Dorgan's performance as excellent or good (Garin-Hart-Yang, 12/29-30, 500 likely voters). For his challenger, Republican Donna Nalewaja, it's been difficult to frame Dorgan as liberal (he voted to override Clinton's veto of the late-term abortion ban) or a Clinton puppet (he opposed NAFTA).
Nalewaja is a 12-year Fargo state Senator who jumped in the race at the last minute; she lost a bid in 1988 for Lt. Governor. Fundraising has been her biggest stumbling block. For Nalewaja, the months spent criss-crossing the state have been dedicated to raising enough money to have just one TV ad; she couldn't afford bumper stickers until the first week of October. At small Kiwanis Club events she criticizes Dorgan for failing to bring home funds needed for a four-lane highway in the northern part of the state and then moves on to issues of a more national sope.
Despite Nalewaja's determination (she's put more than 8,000 miles on her Honda Civic during the campaign), she probably won't be able to catch her opponent at the polls. Dorgan is driving full-speed ahead to a second term.
No public polling is available, but both campaigns
concede that Dorgan is the clear favorite.
