ND-Sen: Democratic Sen. Heitkamp moves ever closer to GOP with latest campaign ad

Most incumbent politicians move closer to their party in the run-up to an election, but it appears Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) is playing by a different set of rules.

Heitkamp, who is locked in a very close race with Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) to retain her job, is seemingly doing the opposite and moving closer to her party of opposition — the Republican Party.

What did she do now?

Heitkamp's move toward the center was made more clear in her latest campaign ad, which could have doubled as a campaign ad for a moderate Republican. In that ad, Heitkamp boasted over being named one of the most effective U.S. senators because she:

• Helped pass drought relief;
• Ended the 40-year oil export ban;
• Rolled back EPA wetland rules;
• Cut regulations on rural lending;
• Protected the U.S. military's long-range strike bombers; and
• Passed the "Border Security Act" and shut down human trafficking websites.

"She's a force for rural America whose stronger than battery acid," the ad's narrator declares.

However, despite her warm embrace of President Donald Trump and apparent move toward the middle, the Democratic Party's machine knows full-well how important Heitkamp's seat is, especially if the Democratic Party wants to retake control of the Senate.

The Senate Majority PAC infused Heitkamp with more than $300,000 in television ads this month, the Washington Examiner reported.

The Heitkamp campaign did not respond to multiple inquires from TheBlaze.

Why is Heitkamp moving toward the center?

In this year's important midterm election, Heitkamp is perhaps the most vulnerable incumbent Democrat in the Senate. President Donald Trump won her state by more than 30 points in 2016 and has already endorsed her opponent.

To make matters worse, a new poll released last week showed Cramer is making inroads with North Dakota voters. The poll revealed Cramer currently enjoys a 4-point lead over Heitkamp, 48 percent to 44 percent.

Trump is slated to hold a rally for Cramer in Fargo, North Dakota, on Wednesday.