GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) " North Dakota U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer is being greeted by throngs of GOP delegates at the state endorsing convention in Grand Forks, with smiles, handshakes, and well-wishes.
Cramer is considered Republicans' best hope of unseating incumbent Democrat Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.
But his party hasn't always been happy with him.
Cramer bypassed the party's convention in 2012 and challenged the endorsed U.S. House candidate in the primary. The move irked party bosses.
Now he has almost universal support of the party because his race against Heitkamp is expected to be one of the toughest Senate races in the U.S., with the GOP's 51-49 majority in question.
Cramer says, "North Dakotans have a role in shaping the agenda for the country." But he says support must continue until Election Day.