Libertarian Dan Cox is running against Sen. Jon Tester and Congressman Denny Rehberg

The race between U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg remains tight with a month before the election. Some Republicans worry and some Democrats hope that Libertarian Dan Cox could take needed conservative votes away from Rehberg.

A polling call targeting likely Rehberg voters promotes Cox as the real constitutional conservative in the race. The pollster isn't identifying which group is behind the call.

Kathy Means, an "actively involved" voter from Florence, said she became suspicious when the pollster kept trying to persuade her to pick Cox over Rehberg. She said the pollster pointed out Rehberg's past support for the Patriot Act, and other sensitive issues for libertarian-minded conservatives.

So-called "push polls" can be used to negatively portray a candidate in an effort to push voters to another candidate.

The Rehberg campaign called the poll a deceptive tactic. Spokesman Chris Bond said they suspect some third-party Tester ally is behind it.

"Montanans are smart, and they're not going to fall for this brand of dirty, deceptive politics coming from Sen. Tester's side," Bond said.

The Tester campaign said it had nothing to do with the calls.

But Cox said it isn't the only fishy call. He said Rehberg allies are calling his likely supporters and trying to talk them into voting for Rehberg.

Cox, who lives in Hamilton and runs an Internet fishing tackle store, said his wife got a call making the rounds to past Ron Paul donors.

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Libertarian Could be Senate Race Spoiler