Montana Republicans must over come newly transplanted Californians, unions (miners), students (urban areas). Not an easy thing to do. Outside $$ a factor as well.
Smaller state(population) has lower advertising rates.
Ohio? It’s gotten more red and Vance could be leading the politics in another direction. An anti-trade candidate with entrepreneurial spirit could followup on his lead. Remember Vance tapped into his Appalachia roots while Ryan was an old school democrat trying to have it both ways.