Montana is a pretty reliable state for Republicans in Presidential elections, but they do have a Democrat governor, senator, and their State Legislature is controlled by the Democrats as well. Rather strange for this socially conservative state, but when the GOP allows corruption in the form of Conrad Burns to continue gestating what can you expect? There is a very good chance that Burns will be defeated and the Republicans will lose what should be an easy hold. While Conrad Burns has certainly had an excellent conservative voting record, it is no substitute for backroom corruption. He should have done the honorable thing and stepped aside, allowing someone else to be the Republican nominee. And, the State party should have had the balls to make him.

Democrat Jon Tester leads Republican Senator Conrad Burns 50% to 43% making Burns the second most vulnerable Senator seeking re-election this year (Pennsylvania’s Rick Santorum is still the most vulnerable). This is the first Rasmussen Reports election poll in Montana since Tester won his primary victory to become the Democrat’s nominee.

Rasmussen

I really hope that Michael Steele pulls this out in November. He is a strong, principled conservative who I think holds the true values of this country at heart. He is also a large step forward for bringing black Americans back to their roots in the Republican Party.

Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin still leads Republican Lt. Governor Michael Steele, but no longer by double digits in this tightening race. Cardin now leads Steele by just six points, 47% to 41%. In February he had led Steele by fourteen points, which by April had dropped to a ten-point lead (see Crosstabs).

Steele is neck-and-neck with Democratic NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, with Steele nominally leading, 45% to 44%. In April Mfume led by four points, after the two had been neck-and-neck in February, Steele 42%, Mfume 41%. The main change for this match-up is that more voters have made up their minds.

Rasmussen