When Voting Gets Personal: Trump aims to tip Montana Senate race to Republicans

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Shifting to US midterm election campaign, US President Donald Trump made a quick trip to the U-S state of Montana this weekend. He was looking to drum up support for a Senate candidate. The seat is currently held by a member of the opposition Democratic Party. CGTN's Hendrik Sybrandy reports.

The sounds of autumn echo around downtown Helena, Montana. It's been a mild fall in this state, so far.

"It's wonderful. It's just we know what's coming."

He's talking about winter but another event is looming even closer: the midterm elections.

"I'm trying not to pay attention to commercials on T.V. and every day we get stuff in the mail that I use to help the start the fire."

Tester commercial: "Tonight on the Maryland Catch, Montana Senate candidate Matt Rosendale hits a big snag."

A tidal wave of negative ads has fueled the Senate race between Democrat Jon Tester and Republican Matt Rosendale, and the Congressional contest between Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Kathleen Williams, in a part of the U.S. where voters don't always stick with the political party they belong to.

HENDRIK SYBRANDY MISSOULA, MONTANA "Montana is a unique state. Residents here remind us of that. It ranks 43rd out of 50 U.S. states in terms of population. It's also vast in size. It's the 4th largest state in the country. Despite all that, you may be surprised to hear that Montana politics is very personal."

"If I know you and you're running for office, oh yeah, he's a good guy, I'll vote for him type of thing."

Tester has played up that bond with fellow Montanans to win two terms in office already.

PROFESSOR LEE BANVILLE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA "My family homesteaded this land. We have this dirt farm in Central Montana. I am of Montana. I get you."

This time though, one man is trying to change how Montana voters decide.

Rosendale commercial: "Montana voted for President Trump. But Senator Jon Tester doesn't care."

When Tester led the opposition to President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, many here say he landed squarely on Trump's radar.

"He's mad at Tester. Yeah, it's a personal thing. I think it's very personal and it costs the U.S. taxpayers a lot."

Montana, which voted for Trump by 20 percentage points in 2016, has seen him and other top Republicans campaign here frequently as they try to cast Tester as just another Democrat.

WILMOT COLLINS MAYOR OF HELENA, MONTANA "Why do you think they keep coming back? Because Montana voters are their own people. They will listen to you but they'll make up their own minds as to who's been in their corner, who's been helping them."

"I'm definitely pro Trump. You think his visits have helped. Yep, I do. I think they've helped. They've helped me."

PROFESSOR LEE BANVILLE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA "If this race is a referendum on do you support President Trump enough or not, that could be really bad for Jon Tester. If it's do you represent Montana, that's what he's been trying to make this whole race about."

Lee Banville of the University of Montana says Tester has voted with the president on a number of issues. But Trump's attempt to nationalize this race puts the Democrat in jeopardy.

"Well, I actually think it energizes both sides."

Voters aren't just focused on local issues.

"I'm not happy with any of the government at this time."

Big Sky Country, as this state is known, is typically fly-over country for presidential candidates, but it's in the national political spotlight now. It will help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Early voting has been busier than normal for a midterm. But many Montanans are done with the campaign. Like winter.

"We're ready as soon as it starts I think for it to be over."

Hendrik Sybrandy, CGTN, Missoula, Montana.