Trump–Harris polls: No one wants to admit how this election will really be won. I saw it firsthand.

The pain in my forehead was sharp, as if I had just slammed it against the nightstand. “Don’t believe the lies about Jon Tester,” said two men, one of whom was identified as a Republican. On the CBS affiliate, before the NFL games kicked off, one ad told me Tim Sheehy thinks government should be making medical decisions for the daughters of Republican fathers, and that Sheehy called abortion “murder.” Another ad dropped a clip-art magnifying glass on a logo on Sheehy’s shirt, as evidence he was lying about his affiliation with a group that advocated for public-land privatization—he himself wanted to privatize public lands, and we had to “stop Shady Sheehy before we lose Montana for good.” I figured, for the sake of thoroughness, I had to survey at least one other Montana media market, so I powered down a gas-station-bought medicinal course for migraine-strength pain and drove across the Continental Divide. I watched the Detroit Lions finish off the Minnesota Vikings, and a Republican father on-screen said that Tim Sheehy thinks the government should be making medical decisions for “my girls.” I watched the Green Bay Packers beat the Houston Texans, and Jon Tester sold us out to China and don’t believe the attacks on Jon Tester they’re all lies. The night before, this chorus had played me to sleep as my agony mounted: Jon Tester is running on a haircut because he can’t run on his record … Tim Sheehy wants to ban abortion and a woman’s right to choose … Tester sold us out to China … Sheehy is “another millionaire buying up land and driving up prices” and won’t protect my daughters’ right to choose or public lands … Tester sold us out to China … Tester’s been running on a haircut because he can’t run on his record … Don’t believe the attacks on Jon Tester … Tim Sheehy wants to ban abortion … Tim Sheehy wants to ban abortion … Sheehy caught lying about land privatization … Being a bartender in Montana, you hear a lot of things, and Sheehy lied about where he grew up, bullet in arm, about protecting public lands … Wealthy outsiders like Tim Sheehy are trying to change our state, jacking up costs … Jon Tester haircut … Don’t believe the attacks on Jon Tester … If you support the right to choose, you can’t choose Tim Sheehy … The battle raged.