So Shon Tester of Big Sandy spent a sweltering day in western Montana on Wednesday, where his father was stumping for the U.S. Senate.
“The thing is, I'm a social person,” said Tester, a junior in theater set design at the University of Montana. “For 2 1/2 weeks out of every month, I'm literally alone on the farm.”
The male Testers cut contrasting figures.
Jon, a towering man who turns 50 next month, wore black cowboy boots, dress slacks and his trademark flattop crew cut.
Shon, 21, wore shorts, a ponytail and a green John Deere T-shirt emblazoned “Keepin' It Rural.”
An earring dangled from one ear.
The elder Tester dabbed perspiration from his face with a blue kerchief. Shon wore a gray one on his head.
The Testers were on the second day of a five-day “Meet Montana's Main Street” tour, one that started in Great Falls and hit Missoula and Corvallis on Wednesday. It continues in Bigfork and Kalispell on Thursday, Boulder and Butte on Friday and Billings on Saturday.
Wednesday began with media commitments and a 30-minute “listening session” at the Uptown Diner, where some 50 people crowded into the back of the café.
Then Tester, in the company of Missoula Mayor John Engen, walked to Caras Park to mingle with the noon-hour crowd at Out to Lunch. Temperatures were already climbing into the 90s.
Tester, a Democrat challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns in November, discussed the usual topics, from Social Security and the cost of gas to global warming and the Middle East.
He listened intently to an impassioned plea from Mike Krill to help reveal the truth about Libby‘s ongoing asbestos contamination.
He even talked Pearl Jam.
The rock band's bass player, Jeff Ament, grew up in Big Sandy near the Tester farm and owns a home in Missoula. Pearl Jam gave a benefit concert for Tester's campaign here last August.
Now comes speculation that Pearl Jam will open for the Rolling Stones in October when the Stones play Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Tester said he had no inside information.
“Somebody asked me if I'd put in a good word with Ament on that,” he said. “They're on tour right now, so I don't know if I'm going to see Jeff.”
Early in his stroll through Caras Park, Tester was approached by pair of military figures.
Sgt. 1st Class Ken Teasdale and Capt. Sean Wilson shook hands with the Democratic candidate and chatted briefly.
“He's a friendly guy. We didn't dig much into politics, but he seems like an all-right guy,” said Wilson, the Army's company commander in western Montana.
“Realistically, when we're in uniform we can't express political views,” added Teasdale.
“Congratulations on the haircut,” one man greeted Tester as he and Engen slipped into the shade of the park pavilion.
The flattop elicited other comments.
“At first I didn't like your haircut,” said 17-year-old Ben Gade of Hamilton, whose own coiffure was of the spiked variety.
Gade, in the company of his mother, Starla, and sister Chavvahn, then popped the question: “What do you think of hemp oil?”
“I love it,” Tester immediately replied.
He said any kind of plant that can be converted to energy should be explored.
Everywhere Tester turned on the hot, humid day came the issue of muckraking.
“I'll tell you, what was brought up more than anything, far and away: Run a positive campaign,” he said. “Geez, I bet you two out of three people made that point.”
“I hope you will continue to take a good, strong, moral stand on issues you've spoken out on, like bringing the troops home,” said a woman at the Uptown Diner. “Don't respond to these negative ads that are mocking what I think are your best stands.”
Applause followed.
“Thank you,” said Tester. “Other issues?”
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