Why is Tester doing so much better than Heitkamp?

[ElectionsGuy]

Yes, obviously Montana is (5-10 points) less Republican. But really this is something that I'm questioning now more than ever. Tester brands himself well for the state but his voting record is not that moderate, at least not like Heitkamp, Manchin, or even Donnelly. Heitkamp is doing the things she needs to do to be re-elected in a very Republican state, but I think most of us agree she is now an underdog. Is it something to do with the differences in Republican opponents in those states (Rosendale vs Cramer), differences in the way Tester and Heitkamp are running their campaigns, or something more fundamental about political differences between the two bordering states? Discuss.

[ElectionsGuy]

- The states have different demographics, because neighboring each other does not mean similar demographics(see PA vs NJ, AZ vs NM, UT vs CO, or NC vs SC)
- Huge influx in ND of energy workers who are scared of the liberal Dems enacting environmental regulations, and/or climbing through their windows at night to eat their small children
- Tester is male
- Tester is male
- Tester is male
- Tester's haircut
- People are afraid Heitkamp has no soul because gingers

They actually do have quite similar demographics, see here, the main differences between the states are median income ($59K in ND vs $48K in MT) and North Dakota being more Republican.

But the rest of your points are solid.