It may mean many pubbies are voting for Tester, which happened 6 years ago. His challenger, I can't remember his name claims he is a rancher, but he has no cattle. He has TV ads calling himself a rancher. Tester is a rancher and has hit him over the head in his own TV commercials about what a rancher is. Apparently, the pubbie challenger has offended Montana's sensibilities and is not authentic, while the voters view Tester as authentic and one of them. At least that is what I have read.
We will find out on election day whether it was fatal to call yourself a rancher, when apparently you're not. Hopefully, there are enough pubbies voting to overcome this "rancher issue". Tester is one I would like to see go down.