Whitefish Lake
There are no reports on the FEC website for Greg Gianforte’s 2017 U.S. House run.
This is disappointing.
Quist has his reports up. Why doesn’t Gianforte?
I think the reports will be about the same, however.
Both candidates are spending most of their money with out-of-state firms.
I suspect Quist will have the larger staff, as Gianforte kept his staff to around 6 or 7 people during his gubernatorial bid.
Besides that, probably not a lot of differences.
Gianforte did exactly what Quist is doing now, just 6 months ago
He could go out and do it again, but what would be the point? Democrats really like to pillory him over this, but so what?
In case you haven’t noticed by now, Montana Democrats are really, really good at pissing and moaning.
They’re terrible at winning elections.
And don’t worry about their propaganda. Despite some of MT Cowgirl/boy’s posts getting 2,000 or more likes on Facebook, this doesn’t translate into wins at the ballot box.
1 for 5 in 2016 for statewide races. Not much to write home about.
So if I was Gianforte, I’d do what he’s doing now – low-key appearances at lunches for the faithful, some national media for the out-of-state money.
Hell, just today the Wall Street Journal had a report up telling us that the House GOP leadership super PAC will spend $1 million in Montana, starting with $125,000 in TV ads today and another $148,000 tomorrow.
If you go to the FEC website you can see which new TV ads have already been paid for.
For instance, the NRA is spending $155,000 this week on anti-Quist TV ads.
They decided to pay through Starboard Strategic.
Conservative Liberty Coalition, which is based out of Denver, spent $7,000 on pro-Gianforte content writing, email lists, and other marketing work.
They paid through Amagi Strategies.
It’s always a little shadier when a PAC gives their money to another group so the PAC doesn’t have to be seen paying.
This is disappointing.
Quist has his reports up. Why doesn’t Gianforte?
I think the reports will be about the same, however.
Both candidates are spending most of their money with out-of-state firms.
I suspect Quist will have the larger staff, as Gianforte kept his staff to around 6 or 7 people during his gubernatorial bid.
Besides that, probably not a lot of differences.
Gianforte did exactly what Quist is doing now, just 6 months ago
He could go out and do it again, but what would be the point? Democrats really like to pillory him over this, but so what?
In case you haven’t noticed by now, Montana Democrats are really, really good at pissing and moaning.
They’re terrible at winning elections.
And don’t worry about their propaganda. Despite some of MT Cowgirl/boy’s posts getting 2,000 or more likes on Facebook, this doesn’t translate into wins at the ballot box.
1 for 5 in 2016 for statewide races. Not much to write home about.
So if I was Gianforte, I’d do what he’s doing now – low-key appearances at lunches for the faithful, some national media for the out-of-state money.
Hell, just today the Wall Street Journal had a report up telling us that the House GOP leadership super PAC will spend $1 million in Montana, starting with $125,000 in TV ads today and another $148,000 tomorrow.
If you go to the FEC website you can see which new TV ads have already been paid for.
For instance, the NRA is spending $155,000 this week on anti-Quist TV ads.
They decided to pay through Starboard Strategic.
Conservative Liberty Coalition, which is based out of Denver, spent $7,000 on pro-Gianforte content writing, email lists, and other marketing work.
They paid through Amagi Strategies.
It’s always a little shadier when a PAC gives their money to another group so the PAC doesn’t have to be seen paying.
Besides those TV ads, Donald Trump, Jr. is coming to Montana next week.
That’ll be a great visit!
- First, Gianforte’s high-end supporters will really shit themselves over the chance to stand so close to ‘greatness.’ My how they’ll open their pocketbooks!
- Next, MT Dems will have a real cluster-fuck of a good time on their websites decrying this visit. This week I decided to stop reading ID and Cowgirl/boy, so it won’t affect me.
- Finally, because Gianforte is spending so much and getting so much support, MT Dems will have a rallying cry with which to raise money. Doesn’t matter that most of that money goes to staffers and out-of-state firms.
So this Trump, Jr. visit is good for everybody.
Of course, if you’re a regular working stiff like me, it won’t mean a damn thing.
Kinda like this House race in general – 1 voice out of 435. Not gonna do a whole lot there.
My life sure isn’t going to change. I’m still waiting for it to change after the Trump election and inauguration.
Everyone said it would. Why hasn't it happened?
Maybe it'll happen next year, I dunno.
To national Democrats, however, they know that the U.S. House could mean something.
In 2018, if they can flip 24 House seats, they’ll control that body of Congress.
In that regard you’d think the DNC and DCCC would spend a bit more money in Montana, allowing themselves to support an incumbent in 2018 as opposed to yet another fresh face trying to take a seat that Dems lost 20 years ago.
But that’s not the case.
Neither the National Democratic Party nor the Montana Democratic Party have spent one dime on this race.
Yet there’s interest.
Remember, a few weeks ago there was only talk of the race being written off.
Then a short time ago hope came along, hope that National would support Rob Quist.
Personally, I feel these stirrings of hope came about only because people began to point out how little National was helping, as well as how much money the MT Dems have and how little they’re helping.
It’s called accountability, or just egg on the face.
No one wants to look stupid, yet when both the National Democrats and the Montana Democrats refuse to spend money on a winnable race, that’s exactly how they look.
So we keep up the pressure, continue the accountability, and demand action.
Will it come?
Maybe.
Kansas is over and Georgia will be done on April 18, next Tuesday, though there could be some ruckus into June.
So that leaves Montana.
Might we see some national money?
Maybe.
It’s always good for out-of-state donors to give to Montana politicians.
The Montana politicians just give it right back to out-of-state businesses!
That’s one of the things that really saddened me about Quist’s financial report yesterday.
It made it clear to me that here’s just another politician. Once elected, it’ll be a rush to the dark money groups to carry him through in 2018.
Tester's Hilltop crowd'll be a big help there!
It’s sad, the system we have.
It’s sad that we put up with it.
