Presidential candidates courting Montana

Bill Clinton Enjoys Mo Club Burger, Greets Missoulians

By Courtney Lowery, 6-01-08

Former President Bill Clinton swung through Missoula Saturday night and stopped by the Mo Club for one of their famous burgers, a diet Pepsi and a little hand shaking.

In Montana to stump for his wife’s bid in the upcoming Montana Democratic primary this Tuesday, Clinton held events in Stevensville, Helena, Great Falls and Anaconda while his daughter, Chelsea, campaigned for her mother in Billings.

Hillary Clinton’s opponent, and if polls prove true, the front-runner, Barack Obama, was in Great Falls rallying on Friday and his wife, Michelle will be in Billings and Kalispell Monday for get out the vote events.

It’s been a fun ride, all this hoopla for little, oft-ignored Montana, and Charles Johnson details today in the Billings Gazette just what all of could mean come Tuesday.

Johnson also notes that all the fuss has overshadowed statewide and local primaries, which are also happening Tuesday. (In case you didn’t know what all the non Clinton and Obama yard signs are about.) I’ll be the first to admit, it’s been hard to pay attention to anything other than the daily rallies, swing-bys and other events, but it is unfortunate to have such little press or attention given to the other primary races.

This weekend at the farmers’ market, a local elected official cornered me, telling me he’s been disappointed by the lack of coverage of the local primaries in particular and while I wasn’t appreciative of having that conversation only halfway into my coffee on a Saturday morning while trying to buy a little spinach, I certainly took his point.

There are some really interesting and important races on the ballot this Tuesday: (By the way, you can click here for a sample ballot for the Democratic and Republican primaries.) There’s the primaries for the U.S. Representative seat, Governor, Attorney General, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a few contested and close legislative races, the rural fire district levy and the Missoula County Commission primary among Dennis Daneke, Michele Landquist and Jeffrey Patterson. So, make sure you take the time to catch up on these races too when you cast your ballot. Some basic information on the statewide races can be found here.

All that said, did anyone grab a picture of Bill and his burger?  :)

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