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Sen. Jon Tester’s ties to President Biden are being tested in Big Sky Country.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign arm for Senate Republicans, is betting Mr. Tester’s support for Mr. Biden will help sink his reelection chances in deep-red Montana.
“Jon Tester in his own words,” the narrator says in an NRSC television ad, released Tuesday. It features a video clip of Mr. Tester saying, “Joe’s the right guy for this country.”
“He’s the right guy for president,” Mr. Tester says.
He is seeking a fourth term in the 2024 election cycle and fighting for his political life. Republicans have rallied around former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy to challenge him.
Considered one of the Senate’s most vulnerable Democrats, Mr. Tester is the last Democratic elected official in a statewide office in Montana, which former President Donald Trump won by more than 16 percentage points in 2020.
The 67-year-old Montana native narrowly won reelection in 2016, beating back a challenge from Matt Rosendale, then the state auditor. Mr. Tester is chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Still, political handicappers give Mr. Tester a slight edge in the race. Republicans are betting Mr. Biden’s lagging poll numbers will help them pick up seats in GOP strongholds and flip control of the U.S. Senate.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact Sen. Steve Daines, Montana Republican, leads the NRSC this campaign cycle.
The new NRSC television ad says that Mr. Tester has voted with Mr. Biden 91% of the time and that support has helped fuel “sky-high” inflation, interest rates and gas prices, as well as “open borders.”
“Even after all that, Jon Tester is still standing by Joe’s side,” the narrator says.
Democrats hold a 51-49 seat majority in the Senate, and the political map is working against them this year. Democrats are defending 23 seats, while Republicans are defending 11.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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