Burns Gains on Tester as Both Prepare for Final Debate

By Courtney Lowery, 10-20-06

Lots of news today from the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns and Democratic challenger Jon Tester. So, here's a quick roundup of the headlines across the state today:

• Matt Gouras at the Associated Press reports that Democratic Senate Leadership is vowing to give Tester a seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee if he wins. And, as Charles Johnson points out in today's Lee Newspapers, the move is of course, a direct match to Burns' cash cow catch phrase that he "delivers for Montana" but where does that leave the Dems' criticism of pork politics and Burns' role in them? Tester addresses that a little in the AP story by saying that he'll make sure earmarks and projects the public scrutiny they deserve but as we're seeing already in the GOP's response to the announcement -- this appropriations power issue is going to be a complicated one for both sides.



• Burns is inching up on Tester in the polls. A Rasmussen Reports poll released today has Tester with 48 percent and Burns with 46 percent. But, when what Rasmussen calls "leaners" are part of the equation, Tester is up 49 percent to 46 percent. This moves the race from a "Leans Democrat" to a "Toss Up" in the the Rasmussen power summary. Meanwhile, an earlier poll from MSU-Billings this week showed Tester gaining with his lead to 46 percent to Burns' 35 percent.



• Meanwhile, both Burns and Tester are gearing up for the final debate of the race tonight in Great Falls. As Peter Johnson reports for the Great Falls Tribune today, the debate is getting a lot of attention -- both locally and nationally.

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