Libertarians Key to Montana Senate Race

Tester blurs the difference between himself and Rehberg to drive freedom advocates to the LP candidate

Darby Libertarian Dan Cox might just be Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg's No. 1 enemy in Montana's U.S. Senate race.

Sure, incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, holds the seat and a massive money edge over Rehberg. But Cox and his libertarian politics could put the Democrat back in office for six more years.

Tester and his allies know it. Their anti-Rehberg messaging is aimed at blurring the distinctions between Rehberg and Tester, and driving libertarians toward Cox: If you want to limit the surveillance state, cut the national debt and deficit and curtail governmental intrusion into private lives, Tester's logic goes, don't vote for me — but don't vote for Rehberg, either.