When Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) provided an early release of his 2nd quarter fundraising report, initial news reports pointed out the apparent strength of Tester’s fundraising. Politico’s David Catanese, however, puts the numbers in perspective, comparing Sen. Tester’s fundraising now, as the incumbent, to 06 when he was the challenger.
While Montana Sen. Jon Tester continues to outpace GOP Rep. Denny Rehber, the difference is smaller than the one Tester himself overcame to land the seat. At this same point in 2005, then Sen. Conrad Burns had $3.2 million in the bank to Tester’s $57,689.
Expect outside groups like American Crossroads and Majority PAC to dive into these states, attempting to make up for any widening monetary rifts.
Meanwhile, it looks like all three Democratic House candidates have pulled in over $25,000 each. Dave Strohmaier (D-Missoula) sent this statement out in an email Friday:
Strohmaier reported raising $26,435.50 in his FEC report that includes funds raised through June 30. Stohmaiers campaign was announced and launched on June 18 or 12 days prior to the reporting deadline.
The Washinton Times covered the Sloth-like Senate over the weekend:
Congressional analysts say the action regularly stalls when power is shared between the two parties, but this year’s slow pace, particularly in the Senate, is at a historic low even by standards of divided government.
Through June 30, the upper chamber had passed the fewest bills since the Congressional Record started keeping monthly data in 1947. The Senate had also amassed the second-fewest total number of pages in the Record — a measure of floor action — and notched the sixth-fewest number of floor votes.
Analysts said Senate Democrats are likely trying to shield the chamber from having to take difficult votes ahead of what’s expected to be a tough election cycle next year.
If you didn’t think the federal and statewide races would be enough, environmental groups are already jumping into Montana’s 2012 legislative races as well.
Daniel Person has this:
Political group Montana Conservation Voters is spending $2,000 to run radio ads in the Bozeman area criticizing some Republicans’ voting records from the 2011 session, including Rep. Tom Burnett, R-Bozeman.
While it doesn’t list specific bills, the ad criticizes Burnett’s votes on river access, cyanide leech mining and renewable energy standards.
It’s worth noting that all the lawmakers targeted by the nonpartisan MCV – Burnett, Rep. Dan Skattum of Livingston and Rep. Derek Skees of Whitefish – are Republicans who took seats held by Democrats in 2009, suggesting that their districts could be in Democrats’ sights in 2012.