Senate '12

Poll: Montana Senate Seat Could Go To GOP in 2012

Jon Terbush | February 24, 2011, 3:45PM

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT)

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) could be on his way out of the Senate after just one term.

In a new poll of likely voters conducted by 47 North Communications, Tester trails Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) in a hypothetical 2012 match-up. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they would vote for Rehberg, while only 44% said they would back Tester.

Earlier this month, Rehberg formally announced that he would take on Tester in next year's election.

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MT-SEN

GOPer Rehberg: How Can We Put Activist Federal Judges On The Endangered Species List? (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 8, 2011, 11:24AM

Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R-MT)

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), who is running for the U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, has let loose his criticisms of a recent ruling by a federal judge to keep the gray wolf on the endangered species list -- saying he would like to put "some of these judicial activists" on the endangered list.

Rehberg spoke Monday before the state legislature. As the Helena Independent Record reports. "When I first heard his decision, like many of you I wanted to take action immediately," Rehberg said. "I asked: How can we put some of these judicial activists on the Endangered Species list?"

Rehberg was then quickly denounced by the executive director of the state Democratic Party, Ted Dick: "Congressman Rehberg's veiled threat against federal judges he disagrees with is in light of the murder of a federal judge in Tucson less than a month ago."

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MT-SEN

Tester Attacks GOP Opponent For Bachmann Connection

Eric Kleefeld | February 2, 2011, 4:34PM

Sen Jon Tester (D-MT) & Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN)

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is already taking the gloves off against his soon-to-be Republican opponent, Rep. Denny Rehberg, pointing out that Rehberg will reportedly be launching his campaign at a state GOP dinner this weekend featuring...Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann!

In an appearance on ABC's Top Line Web program, Tester tied Rehberg to Bachmann's recent budget proposal, which calls for freezes and cuts in veterans' benefits.

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MT-SEN

Report: GOPer Rehberg To Challenge Dem Sen. Tester In Montana

Eric Kleefeld | February 1, 2011, 10:06AM

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT)

A top-tier Senate race in 2012 is now gearing up, with Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) set to announce that he is challenging first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.

Roll Call reports:

"It's happening Saturday," said a knowledgeable Montana GOP political operative. "He's running. There is a lot of support and enthusiasm back home, and Denny knows he can win."

Roll Call also reports that the operative shared an internal Rehberg campaign poll, which gave Rehberg 49% to Tester's 43%. This is fairly similar to a Public Policy Polling (D) survey from this past NOvember, which had Rehberg edging out Tester by a margin of 48%-46%.

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2012 elections

DeMint Targets Red-State Dem Senators In Fundraising Email

Eric Kleefeld | December 2, 2010, 9:42AM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint is already hitting the virtual campaign trail for the 2012 Senate races, National Journal reports, with his Senate Conservatives Fund leadership PAC sending out a fundraising email targeting four red-state Democrats who voted against the earmark moratorium.

The targeted Senators are Jon Tester (D-MT), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Kent Conrad (D-ND) and the newly-elected Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who just won a special election and is up for a vote again in 2012. All four of them hail from states that were carried by John McCain in 2008.

"These senators are nice folks but they have ignored the will of the American people and they must be replaced with principled conservatives in 2012," DeMint says in the email. "That's where the Senate Conservatives Fund comes in and it's where you can help."

DeMint then adds that his PAC will need "at least $4 million" for these four targeted races.