When Montana Sen. Jon Tester was nine-years old, he lost three fingers in a meat grinder while helping out on his family's cattle farm, which he still runs today. His latest ad shows he can laugh about the accident now.
Facing a tough re-election for a third term as a Democrat in a state that Donald Trump won handily, Tester's political consultants clearly want to position him as someone who cooperates with the President, and hasn't gone native in Washington.
Tester speaks to the camera from a Montana street and cheerily says, "Washington is a mess. But that's not stopping me from getting bills to help Montana signed into law by President Trump." The screen text boasts of "13 Bills Signed Into Law By President Trump."
Tester and various Montanans tally them up, holding up their fingers as they summarize each piece of legislation. After hearing from voters about seven bills that "improve veterans' health care," "support our caregivers" and "got [firefighters] the gear we need," we get to number eight.
Screen text rushes through the final six bills as Tester assures, "But I'm not finished getting things done for Montana."
Running as an incumbent when there is so much ire directed at Washington is a stiff challenge. Tester's not-so-subtle allusion to his farming life is perhaps the best way to take that challenge head on.
Facing a tough re-election for a third term as a Democrat in a state that Donald Trump won handily, Tester's political consultants clearly want to position him as someone who cooperates with the President, and hasn't gone native in Washington.
Jon Tester Lost Three Fingers In a Meat Grinder
Therefore, "13 Bills" touts legislation that Tester supported and President Trump signed into law.Tester speaks to the camera from a Montana street and cheerily says, "Washington is a mess. But that's not stopping me from getting bills to help Montana signed into law by President Trump." The screen text boasts of "13 Bills Signed Into Law By President Trump."
Tester and various Montanans tally them up, holding up their fingers as they summarize each piece of legislation. After hearing from voters about seven bills that "improve veterans' health care," "support our caregivers" and "got [firefighters] the gear we need," we get to number eight.
Jon Tester Counts Up His Bills Signed By Trump
Tester holds up both hands and happily declares, "Eight ... I'm out of fingers!"Screen text rushes through the final six bills as Tester assures, "But I'm not finished getting things done for Montana."
Running as an incumbent when there is so much ire directed at Washington is a stiff challenge. Tester's not-so-subtle allusion to his farming life is perhaps the best way to take that challenge head on.