Montana News
Libertarian Senate candidate says he's still running, despite Trump's comments
Former President Donald Trump gave the Libertarian candidate in Montana's U.S. Senate race an unexpected shout-out at his rally in Bozeman. The president said the candidate had a surprise announcement coming, but that's not the case. M.T.P.R. Shaley Rager reports. "Calas Bell City Councilor and Libertarian candidates said Dowd says he was not expecting Trump to single him out at Friday's rally." "Where is our Libertarian friend? And I think he's going to be with us. Where is he?" Dowd was also not expecting this statement from Trump. "I think he's going to be giving you a very nice surprise very soon." Trump was in Bozeman, stumping for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehee. Dowd's opponent, both are in the race to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator John Tester. Dowd said in an interview afterward that Trump seemingly implied the Libertarian would drop out of the race. Dowd says he was invited to Bozeman at the last minute to talk about issues with Sheehee and other top Republicans, including U.S. Senator Steve Danes. Dowd says he was never asked to drop out, but the Republicans told him that withdrawing may help the GOP win control of the Senate. Dowd was unpersuited and is continuing his campaign. He says the meeting was organized by leaders of the National Libertarian Party. Dowd was offered a chartered flight to Bozeman. He took it, but says he doesn't know who paid for it. The Libertarian Party, nor the Trump campaign, immediately responded to MTPR's questions. Montana State University political scientist Eric Riley says it makes sense Republicans would want a Libertarian to step aside as they are most likely to pull votes away from the GOP. So if you have a Libertarian candidate getting three or four percent of the vote, that is enough to sway those elections. Spokespeople for Sheehee and Danes said the Republicans did not encourage Dowd to drop out. They say they told Dowd Libertarians have far more in common with the GOP than with Democrats. In Helena, I'm Shalee Riker. This is MTPR.