Jon Tester for U.S. Senate

I believe Democrats are poised to make real gains in November. According to one survey, Conrad Burns is the least popular senator in the nation.

Across the country, Democrats are ahead of Republicans in generic polls. We’re beating the Republicans at recruitment. And the field appears to be in our favor.

But to truly make gains in the House and Senate, I believe we’ll need candidates willing to show true leadership. Leaders who will make tough decisions and stand up for what we believe in. Leaders who will work to solve problems and get things done—for Montana and for all of America.
(more…)

Jon’s interview with Jonathan Singer is up at MyDD.

Jon and Jonathan had the opportunity to cover a range of topics, from farm subsidies and the port deal to energy and ethics.

Jon’s response on the role of the progressive bloggosphere is especially meaningful. Jon is a career farmer–he lives Montana everyday. This campaign is about leadership that can bring values Jon and other everyday Montanans know to the U.S. Senate.

“I am - and I don’t classify this as being a knock - I’m an average guy. I’ve got two kids, a wife. My parents helped teach me the business I’m in. And I’m not rich. I don’t have a ton of money. I know what it’s like to balance the checkbook. I know what it’s like to struggle to pay bills at the end of the month. I’ve done all those things, and I continue to do all of those things even right now as we speak. Finances have always been something that we have struggled with, like most American families have, to buy a home, buy a new car or just pay the insurance bill.

“So I’m going to take those kind of qualities to Washington, DC, and I think a lot of people in the blogosphere are in the same boat. They’re regular people. They’re not rich. They work for the dollars they get, and they work hard for them. If they want someone back in Washington, DC who’s going to represent everybody, and not fall into this pay-to-play mentality, just represent the upper crust, then I’m their guy.”

Take a look at the interview. It’s worth a read.

Yesterday, Jon met with Doug Buttrey, chair of the Surface Transportation Board, to talk about freight rates and rail competition in Montana. Burlington Northern Santa Fe controls key rail lines across Montana, including a branch line serving Jon’s hometown, Big Sandy.

The trouble is, that line hasn’t served anyone since 2003, when BNSF mothballed the line, citing financial concerns.

Jon has spoken out on these issues in the past, calling for more competition and fair rates for Montana farmers. Tester’s meeting with Buttrey was a productive step in resolving competition and rate issues for agricultural producers in rural Montana.

It’s becoming more clear every day that Conrad Burns has been around the “stockyards” in D.C. so long that only the folks back home can smell the “you-know-what.”

Janet Hook of the LA Times recently paid a visit to Montana to talk to Montanans about this year’s U.S. Senate race. What she found points to “signs of trouble for the GOP”. Voters are fed up with Conrad Burns’ dealings with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and they’re not afraid to say it:

“These people need to pay more attention to the money they are taking,” said Bill Curry, a brick mason from Belgrade, a town northwest of Bozeman. “It’s corrupt. I don’t like it. It’s not good.”

Earlier in the story, a former supporter of Conrad Burns explains why he’s not with the Senator this year in November:

Jack Bolender, a retiree who voted for three-term Sen. Conrad Burns because the Republican delivered mounds of federal aid to Montana, said he was deserting the incumbent in the state’s November election. Allegations that Burns was cozy with Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist central to a wide-ranging corruption scandal in Washington, have Bolender steamed.

“I appreciate what [Burns] brought to the state, but at what cost?” Bolender said one cold afternoon outside Murdoch’s. “We seem to be selling out to the special interests.”

It’s funny that the only retort Republicans can put together throughout the article is to accuse Democrats of mudslinging. Unfortunately for them, Democrats like Jon Tester have been clear on the issues, promising to fight and win for Montana on issues like health care, energy, and jobs.

This story should be news to Burns that it’s tough to call Democratic ads about ethics dirty when you’re stuck in a muddy scandal with Jack Abramoff. Montana voters are smarter than that.

Jon was in Missoula last week for campaign events and the Mens and Womens Cat-Griz basketball games. While he was in town, he had a chance to stop in and chat with local media. If you’re in Missoula, listen for Jon’s interviews with local radio in the coming weeks.

Here’s Jon in the studio, ready to hit the airwaves:

And here’s a shot of Montana House Democratic Leader Dave Wanzenried and Jon Tester at a Missoula event:

Be sure to check back here at Tester Time for more in the coming weeks. We’ll be bringing updates and photos as Jon visits communities across Montana on his campaign to bring real change to the U.S. Senate.