Can Rehberg Beat Tester?

Montana made the national news regarding the upcoming 2012 election. Our current, and only congressman,Representative Denny Rehberg announced that he will challenge Senator Jon Tester.

Rehberg, a Republican, has held his office since 2001.He would like to create jobs through development of Montana's natural gas and coal reserves and he would like de-list the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. He is against federal gun control as well as gay marriage.

Assuming Democrat Jon Tester seeks another term, he will be running for his second term having been elected in 2007. He is a supporter of tax cuts for the middle class and small businesses and he favors development of alternative energy. Like Rehberg he is against gun control and same sex marriage.

Both men are Montana natives. Rehberg has a ranching background while Tester is an organic farmer. Both men have a history of generally voting along party lines supporting their respective Democratic or Republican ideals.

Montana Republicans swept both houses of state government last fall and it is widely assumed that they will be winners again in 2012. This race will be interesting to watch as both candidates are popular incumbents with statewide name recognition. It will be a hard-fought contest,especially if another candidate steps forward.

Can Denny Rehberg win against Jon Tester? So much can happen in a year and a half. Right now President Obama is enormously popular and rising in the poles. If the election were held today, Tester might win just on that basis. We cannot assume that that will continue to be the case, however; nor can we assume the Republicans will win again because they did in the 2010 general election.

This should be a close race worth watching as it unfolds.

Source: CNN News
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