A new poll shows Republican challenger Rep. Kevin Cramer leading Sen. Heidi Heitkamp by a 10- point margin, with North Dakotans overwhelmingly in favor of confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Losing a race in North Dakota would make it significantly more difficult for Democrats to retake the Senate.

The poll, from Strategic Research Associates and North Dakota's NBC affiliate, shows Cramer opening up a 51 percent to 41 percent lead over the Democratic incumbent.

The poll also finds North Dakotans support the confirmation of Kavanaugh by a 60 percent to 27 percent margin. Furthermore, the survey found that at 21 percent, more people rated Kavanaugh as their top concern than any other single issue.

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The poll was taken after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced against Kavanaugh, but before last week's hearing on the matter.

Should Democrats lose North Dakota, it would mean that they'd have to hold all of their other Senate seats in red states, win in Arizona and Nevada, and also win in either Texas or Tennessee.

If this polling is confirmed by others, it will put heavy pressure on Heitkamp to back Kavanaugh if this week's FBI investigation does not turn up any evidence that discredits him or corroborates accuser Christine Blasey Ford.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated that the poll was put out by Mason Dixon and NBC. It was put out by Strategic Research Associates and NBC. We have changed it and regret the error.