To make the time go by faster and for some enjoyment, I subscribe to e-mail updates from the Montana Republican Party and the Montana Democratic Party.

They usually don’t disappoint their subscribers.

As we approach the hotter part of summer here in Big Sky Country, the political parties have turned up the heat – especially in the (so far) premiere race in Montana, Rehberg v. Tester for the junior U.S. Senate seat.

It’s just not participating in the local parades or having a booth at the local fair, but it’s also getting the word out over the internet via e-mail and using Twitter, Facebook, and other social media for your campaign.

Today I take a quick look at a couple e-mails sent yesterday from the Montana Political Parties.

First, the Montana Democrats sent an e-mail with the subject, “SAVE THE DATE: How Will Congressman Rehberg Spend the Montana Oil Spill Anniversary?”

On my Blackberry I could only read “SAVE THE DATE” so thinking it might be some big event (President or Vice President visit, another Baucus wedding, etc.) or just an event with free food and drink, I opened it.

The Montana Democrats are planning ahead for 2012 when the campaigns will be in full swing asking “So how will Congressman Rehberg spend the one year anniversary of the Exxon oil spill in the Yellowstone River?”

Then they answer their own question:

What: A Fundraiser with Exxon oil executives.

When: July 1, 2012 – one year from the Exxon spill in the Yellowstone River.

Where: Five star hotel in Houston, Denver, Salt Lake City…probably not Billings

Why: Because Congressman Rehberg is in Big Oil’s pockets and out of touch with Montana

I’d give that e-mail about a “7” out of 10 on the scale used here at The Western Word – it asks people to imagine something in the future and most political observers lack the imagination necessary to do that.

Not to be outdone, the Montana Republican Party hit my inbox a few minutes later using a statement for the subject, “Tester Supports Obama’s Tax and Spend Policies.”

A little history lesson:  It’s not good for politicians to say (at least in public) they want to raise taxes.  It kills their campaign so they say things like “raising revenue” or “increasing fees” instead of “tax increase.”

The Montana Republicans wrote, “When asked how Congress should move forward with proposals to raise taxes on hardworking families and small business owners, Tester stated that tax increases needed to be part of the equation in order to get our ballooning national deficit under control.”

Then, they use an actual quote from Tester:

“Every economist out there that I’ve talked to said if we’re going to get a long-term solution for the debt situation in this country, it has to include everything.  Everything needs to be on the table, there’s no doubt about that.”

Although the words “tax increase” did not appear in the quote from that interview after reading the whole story the quote came from HERE and seeing a subsequent story HERE about the debt ceiling, it does appear that Tester would support raising taxes (revenue) as a solution for our debt situation.

That stance probably won’t play well in Montana – and I can imagine the commercials already.

I’d give the Montana Republican Party e-mail about an “8” out of 10 on the scale used here at The Western Word.  It could have stated, “Tester wants to raise your taxes” in the subject and made it much stronger from the beginning.

So on one particular hot summer day the score is Montana Republicans: 1, Montana Democrats: 0.

But the games will continue…

Nobody follows the Montana political scene as closely as the staff here at The Western Word, so to get insight throughout the day follow us on Twitter @TheWesternWord.  We also welcome your questions.  Contact The Western Word at:  western_word@yahoo.com