Heitkamp is someone who could really get screwed over the SCOTUS nomination, if she votes no she gives up any pretense of being a moderate and likely loses several centrist/conservative votes. If she votes yeas she risks alienating the far left that is funding her campaign
TIL you're not a moderate unless you support a far-right SCOTUS nominee. 
Such is life when you live in a political climate polarized based on an issue of morality.
On a kinda sorta maybe semi-related note:
This is obviously anecdotal, but interestingly enough, I've talked to quite a few rank-and-file Republicans who have said they would support (albeit reluctantly) raising taxes to make free or low-cost contraceptives available in all grocery stores once they realize that increasing access to and the affordability of contraceptives is by far the most effective way to reduce the number of abortions (significantly more effective than banning abortion would be, tbh), especially ones from the religious right faction (
affluent socially liberal fiscal conservatives
tend not to like this idea so much
). File that under unexpected common ground that can be found when you engage in civil discourse with folks you completely disagree with
I also never cease to be surprised by the number of folks I've talked to who were shocked to learn contraceptives/birth control aren't "abortion drugs," but instead simply prevent the pregnancy from occurring in the first place.
