The conservative Washington Examiner's Samantha Jo-Roth reported last week that US Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) "raised $8 million in the first quarter, outraising likely Republican opponent Tim Sheehy by a 3-1 ratio."
She noted, "The haul was the most raised in the first quarter of a Montana Senate election ever, and Tester's campaign reported ending the first quarter with about $12.6 million in cash on hand."
However, according to a Wednesday, April 24 Axios report, "Republicans are pouring money into the race and are painting Tester as a lawmaker who says one thing to Montanans and then acts differently in Washington."
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The news outlet reports that the Democratic lawmaker's main strategy to keep his Senate seat thus far has been "leaning on bucking his own party and President Biden."
Due to the fact many Montana residents are not fans of the president, "Some of the earliest advertising from the Tester camp have elevated his splits with Biden, including an ad that said the Democrat 'fought to stop President Biden from letting migrants stay in America instead of remain in Mexico,'" Axios reports.
Furthermore, the senator's "campaign told Axios the lawmaker has 'worked with President Trump and Republicans to help veterans, crack down on government waste and abuse, and support our first responders.'"
However, Tester voted against Trump during both of his impeachment trials.
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"Jon Tester pretended to like President Trump to get re-elected, then immediately turned around and began trashing him like a deranged liberal," National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Mike Berg told Axios.
Axios' full report is available at this link.
