After Campaigning Against Him, Senator Heidi Heitkamp Votes With Obama 97% Of The Time

Some of you might remember campaign ads like the one above from 2012 in which Heidi Heitkamp, currently serving as one of North Dakota’s two Senators, promised to “stand up” to President Barack Obama. Heitkamp has worked hard to cultivate that image. Shortly after being elected Heitkamp was described as a “defiant Democrat” not afraid to “knock Obama.”

Heitkamp was so sensitive about being tied to Obama during her campaign that when video emerged of her describing President Obama as “amazing,” a state party official who recorded the video started filing copy right complaints against anyone who posted it online.

But Heitkamp’s actions don’t seem to match her words. With President Obama sporting just a 35% approval rating among North Dakotans – among the lowest in the nation – Congressional Quarterly reports that Senator Heitkamp has voted with President Obama 97% of the time.

You can see the full ranking below. CQ defines their pro-Obama votes as “votes cast in 2013 on which President Barack Obama took a position and on which the senator voted “yea” or “nay” in agreement with the president’s position.”

By way of contrast, Rep. Kevin Cramer voted against President Obama 88% fo the time while Senator John Hoeven voted against him 57% of the time.