So far, the race has largely revolved around Democrats' pointing out Burns's ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But now Ken Mehlman, chair of the Republican National Committee, is trying to shift the debate toward the war in Iraq. At a state Republican convention in Billings, Mont., last week, Mehlman said that the war is one of the main ideological contrasts between Burns and Tester, the president of the state Senate.

Burns rejects the call by some Democrats to pull out of Iraq by the end of 2006. "We will bring the troops home as quickly as possible, but setting an arbitrary timetable does not secure the world and help us win the global war on terror," Burns said last week when he voted to kill the pullout plan put forth by Sen. John Kerry, Democrat from Massachusetts. Kerry's plan was defeated in a 93-to-6 vote.

Tester, on the other hand, says an exit strategy should be put in place so that the nation can turn its attention and resources toward other military and homeland security needs. "Some of our best retired generals who understand the situation in Iraq have argued that an exit strategy for American troops from Iraq by the end of 2006 is feasible and in the best interests of America," says a statement on Tester's website.

It's unclear how much weight voters will give to the different stances on an Iraq pullout. A recent poll showed Burns and Tester neck and neck, with Tester having a slight lead. A Lee Newspapers public opinion survey taken in late May showed 45 percent saying they would vote for Tester and 42 percent for Burns.—Danielle Knight