Survey USA 50 State Senate Poll

[Gabu]

He's only down by 14, though, and in a very Republican state.

Republican?  I'm not sure if I'd call it that.

Here are the current office-holders in Montana:

Governor - D
Lieutenant Governor - R
Federal Senators - 1 D, 1 R
Federal Representatives - 1 R
State Senators - 27 D, 23 R
State Representatives - 50 D, 50 R

Montana might have a slight tilt towards the Republicans higher up, and especially during presidential elections, but the lower you go, the more Democratic it gets.  State politics are basically entirely driven by the Democrats, in fact, as they hold the governor's mansion and control both sections of the Montana legislature.  If Conrad Burns is ousted in 2006, Montana would be one single seat away (Rehberg's) from being a one-party Democratic state in every respect but presidential elections.

[Gabu]

Montana only started voting Democratic because the Republican Party is so incompetent.  Republicans have the registration advantage and self-identification advantage.  Your point is well-taken, though.

Yeah, but judging by Burns' approval ratings, Montanans don't think he's all that more competent than the rest of them.

Also, I'm not saying that Montana is a Democratic state, only that I would not particularly call it "very Republican".  Perhaps there are more Republicans in the state than Democrats, but that evidently doesn't necessary translate into all that much of an advantage for Republicans at the state level.