From the Flathead Beacon Blog
Obama’s Lead on Clinton May End Montana’s Swan Song
The chances of Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton returning to Montana took a hit Tuesday night. After Obama’s crushing victory in North Carolina and Clinton’s narrow win in Indiana, the majority of pundits have declared the race all but over. I hope not. The state press has been blanketed with high-profile attention from each campaign over the last few weeks and it would be a shame to find out that the media was simply used for political gain.
Since Obama and Clinton visited Montana last month, and subsequently opened campaign field offices across the state, the local press has been constantly updated on why each candidate is absolutely great and has the state’s best interests in mind. You see, we’re passed a deluge of daily notes, many with personal touches.
[more]
new west news brief
Bill Clinton Coming to Billings
Bill Clinton is coming to Billings May 10 to stump for his wife Hillary in the run up to Montana's June 3 presidential primary. He'll be speaking at the Truman Day Dinner, a Yellowstone County Democratic fundraiser.
This will be the former president's second stop in Montana in as many months. In early April he visited Havre, Great Falls, Helena and Butte.
We'll have more information on Bill Clinton's visit as it becomes available.
[more]
new west news brief
Obama Draws More Montana Money
Montanans have given more money to Democrats than Republicans in this year’s presidential race, and Barack Obama is the leading recipient of the Treasure State’s generosity, according to the Great Falls Tribune.
New numbers released Monday by the Federal Election Commission have Obama raking in $249,740, 31 percent of Montana’s total donations. Hillary Clinton is a distant second with $123,920 in donations, the majority of which came from her Missoula fundraiser. Republican Ron Paul may not have a chance at his party’s nomination, but by raising $104,312 he has topped all other Republican candidates including John McCain.
[more]
Advertisement
"i'm still in this race!"
Ron Paul Rallies Missoula
The Ron Paul Revolution rolled into Missoula Monday night to raucous cheers and whistles from a standing room only crowd on the University of Montana campus, despite the fact that his opponent John McCain has already secured the Republican presidential nomination.
“People ask, are you still in this race or aren’t you? Sure I’m still in this race!” Paul said, eliciting loud chants of “Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul” from the crowd of more than a thousand people. “I’m in the race as long as the supporters want me in the race. It’s their campaign,” Paul said, who vowed to fight on to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minn. in September.
Paul wasted no time in getting to the core principles of his anti-establishment message: liberty and limited government.
“The opposite of liberty is big government. If we want more liberty, we have to shrink the size of our government,” Paul said.
[more]
PRESS CONFERENCE CALL THIS AFTERNOON
Montana Conservationists Defend Obama on Hunting, Gun Issues
Stung by recent accusations that he doesn't support the best interests of hunters, anglers and gun owners, presidential candidate Barack Obama had his campaign office hold a press conference call today to refute those claims and show "Senator Obama’s commitment to the rights and traditions of Montana’s sportsmen."
An impressive line up spoke on Obama's behalf, starting with Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission chairman and former state senator Steve Doherty, who pointed out that roughly half of the people in Montana's hunt or fish and that he believed Obama would more strongly represent hunters, anglers and gun owners than Hillary Clinton.
Updated: 9 pm, 4-18-08.
[more]
new west news brief
Ron Paul Plans Missoula Rally
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is holding a campaign rally Monday, April 21, at the University of Montana in Missoula
According to his campaign, Paul will speak at the University Center Ballroom at 7:30 p.m.
Paul, a Texas Congressman who gained cult popularity with his anti-war rhetoric during the Republican primaries, won Missoula County's republican caucus over two months ago on Super Tuesday.
[more]
november matchups
Poll: In Montana Obama vs. McCain More Competitive
A poll released Thursday suggests that in Montana, Barack Obama has a better shot of beating John McCain in November than Hillary Clinton. McCain is leading Obama 48% to 43%, Clinton 54% to 36%.
The Rasmussen report states: "It would be truly stunning if Obama could turn Montana into a competitive state this November. George W. Bush won Montana’s 3 Electoral College Votes by twenty percentage points in 2004 and by twenty-five points four years earlier."
[more]
picking horses
Obama and Clinton Roundup Montana Endorsements
Gabe Cohen, state director for Obama for America, announced today at a press conference in the State Capital Rotunda in Helena that his favorite candidate has secured endorsements from 37 state elected officials and Democratic Party leaders.
This widespread and diverse early support shows that Barack Obama has significant momentum in Montana, Cohen claimed, "because he's the best able to represent the independent spirit of Montana."
Meanwhile, the Clinton campaign announced its 27-member Montana steering committee made up of legislators, community leaders and democratic activists. "Together we will work hard to share our message of real change with voters throughout Montana," Clinton said in a statement.
[more]
presidential politics
Governor Schweitzer Criticizes Obama on Health Care, Energy
Teddy Davis of ABC News has a new interview with Brian Schweitzer in which the Montana governor offers some sharp criticisms of Senator Barack Obama, but says that he will withhold his coveted endorsement for whoever wins his state’s primary on June 3rd.
The interview, conducted at Schweitzer’s Helena home, has the governor disapproving of Obama’s health care plan and his strict guidelines for clean coal technologies, which Schweitzer sees as vital for reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. No matter who wins the Democratic Party's nomination, Schweitzer thinks Republican nominee John McCain will win Montana for his stance on gun control alone.
Click here for the full interview.
[more]
