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How did Jon Tester and Congressman Dennis Rehberg spend the month of January?  The difference couldn’t be more obvious.

Jon Tester traveled thousands of miles across the Treasure State, holding dozens of meetings and public events attended by more than 1,000 Montanans from across the political spectrum—discussing everything from online safety to consumer protection to job creation in Montana.

As for Dennis Rehberg?  Not counting plenty of interviews with newspapers, TV and radio stations, Rehberg’s only public event was a political news conference announcing his Senate bid—surrounded Republican legislators known for comparing women to cattle and birther bills.

“Unlike Jon Tester, Congressman Dennis Rehberg thought January was vacation time,” said Ted Dick, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party.  “After 35 years in politics, Congressman Rehberg has he’s lost touch with Montana, and his decisions are so irresponsible he apparently doesn’t want to face the music at home.”

• Addressed Sentinel Kiwanis Club (Missoula)
• (Rehberg also held political press conference in Helena during which he filed for U.S. Senate surrounded by Montana lawmakers)

• Addressed Montana Chamber of Commerce (Helena)

• Visited U.S. Government class at Harlem High School (Harlem)
• Hosted Economic Development Roundtable (Harlem)
• Met with Fort Belknap Tribal Council (Fort Belknap)
• Visited U.S. Government class at Rocky Boy High School (Box Elder)
• Held Veterans Roundtable (Box Elder)

• Visited Black Coffee Roasters (Missoula)
• Met with local realtors (Missoula)
• Met with Ravalli and Missoula Counties Suicide Task Force (Missoula)
• Held roundtable with Missoula Head Start (Missoula)
• Visited U.S. Government class at Sentinel High School (Missoula)
• Met with Lance Corporal Tomy Parker, U.S. Marine Corps (Ronan)

• Addressed Daybreak Rotary (Kalispell)
• Met with Mayor John Muhlfeld and City Council (Whitefish)
• Toured Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center (Whitefish)
• Met with Sheriff Chuck Curry (Kalispell)
• Hosted online safety forum with Facebook (Kalispell)
• Hosted online safety forum with Facebook (Billings)

• Visited Social Studies class at Skyview High School (Billings)
• Met with Rocky Mountain College President Michael Mace and Greg Kohn (Billings)
• Met with regional tribal leaders to discuss Indian health care (Billings)
• Hosted roundtable discussion with Billings Chamber of Commerce on energy (Billings)
• Met with Central Labor Council (Billings)

• Met with the School Administrators of Montana (Helena)
• Met with the Montana Rural Education Association (Helena)
• Met with the Montana School Board Association (Helena)
• Met with the Independent Insurance Agents of Montana (Helena)

• Met with the National Federation of Independent Businesses (Helena)
• Met with the Montana Bankers Association (Helena)
• Met with the Montana Realtors Association (Helena)

• Hosted roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus Helena community leaders (Helena)
• Visited Montana Department of Labor training session (Helena)
• Hosted roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus and National Guard members (Helena)
• Hosted Roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus and Great Falls community leaders (Great Falls)
• Hosted roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus and officers at Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls)
• Hosted town hall meeting with Holly Petraeus and airmen at Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls)

• Addressed the Montana Contractors’ Association (Big Sky)
• Visited Bozeman Head Start (Bozeman)

January 13

• Visited seniors at Lame Deer High School (Lame Deer)
• Hosted veterans listening session (Lame Deer)
• Toured Little Big Horn College (Crow Agency)
• Hosted veterans listening session (Crow Agency)

January 20

• Addressed Montana Chamber of Commerce (Helena)
• Visited Helena Middle School (Helena)
• Met with SeaCast Montana (Butte)
• Met with Montana State Sheet Metal Workers (Butte)

Hmmm. Looks like Tester wins this round. If you count being industrious, that is.