Burns in Tight Race, but Money Could Talk
Sen. Burns (R-Mont.) is in a dead heat, tied at 47% with Democrat Jon Tester, new data by independent pollster Rasmussen Reports showed. The Commerce Committee stalwart is no stranger to close runs. This year, though, his ties to the Abramoff scandal -- the outlaw lobbyist will do time for fraud and tax evasion, but Burns escaped indictment -- stirred bad press at home and sent some staff packing, leading some to predict Burns would flame out. Burns has been active on such issues as adult Web content, the Universal Service Fund and spyware.
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“Burns has a relatively competitive race even without the Abramoff situation,” said Nathan Gonzales, political editor-Rothenberg Report. But the Montanan “has a knack for making uncompetitive elections competitive,” Gonzales said. Earlier this summer, the sometimes cranky Burns drew boos for berating fire fighters for doing a poor job. Burns campaign spokesman Jason Klindt thinks his boss will win, he said: “He’s been in tight races before, but he’s always been a candidate who’s won.”
Burns could get a lift Wed. when Vice President Cheney visits Mont. to campaign for him. Burns’ campaign promises include a vow to boost Montanans’ broadband deployment, Klindt said. Much of the state is underserved, and Burns frequently has called it a place with a “lot of dirt between light bulbs.” Burns, who joined Commerce in 1989, has become a player in telecom. Challenger Tester doesn’t list telecom among priorities on his campaign website, but he thinks it’s important for broadband to be available and affordable in rural areas, he said in a written statement: “In the U.S. Senate, I will fight to make sure that America invests in the telecom infrastructure that is so critical to rural America’s economy.”
Former broadcaster Burns is well-liked for being able to describe the sector in language colleagues can grasp, an NAB spokesman said: “Senator Burns understands the broadcast business, and NAB supports his re-election.” That support has meant healthy donations by NAB and communications/technology political action committees (PACs), according to Political Moneyline.com, which tracks campaign spending.
For the 2006 election cycle, communications PACs gave Burns $214,441, Political Moneyline said. They were his 2nd largest donors, followed by energy and transportation. Single-issue groups led the spending. Burns has raised about $6.8 million, spending about $4.6 million, with $2.2 million in his war chest. Of the $1.7 million Tester raised, he’s spent $1.2 million, with $514,907 left, Political Moneyline said.
Burns’ seat is one of 9 on the Commerce Committee up for reelection and one of a half-dozen races that could go either way, analysts said. In Tester, Burns finds himself facing a grassroots opponent during a year when voters are unhappy with Republicans, Gonzalez said. Mont. Democrats are eager to turn their state blue, the Missoula Independent reported: “This time around it’s not just Burns versus Democratic candidate ‘X’ or ‘Y,’ it’s Burns versus the Democratic Party.” -- Anne Veigle
(Editor’s Note: This is the first of an occasional series on political races of interest to our readers.)