Out-of-Stater Navigator: 1 in 4 Montana Republicans Rejected Tim Sheehy
More than one in four Montana Republicans rejected Tim Sheehy in the Republican primary (while Jon Tester earned 97% of the Democratic vote). His feeble showing is no surprise – his campaign has been overshadowed by his many weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: TIM SHEEHY LIMPS INTO GENERAL ELECTION FACING “SLEW OF BAD HEADLINES”
Sheehy’s lies and weaknesses are front and center as he limps into the general election bruised and embattled.
Read the press coverage following Montana’s primary highlighting his lies, weaknesses, and distrust among Montana Republicans:
Helena Independent Record: “Since Sheehy joined the race, the first-time political candidate has faced a slew of bad headlines, including carpetbagging criticism, half-truths about who is receiving the proceeds from his book and revelations that he lied about a gunshot wound.”
Daily Montanan: “But the former Navy SEAL has also drawn scrutiny for his Minnesota roots, his multiple multi-million-dollar properties, his company’s finances and a lawsuit he faces from former employees, and his lie to a Glacier National Park ranger about how a bullet ended up lodged in his arm.”
NPR: “The Washington Post first reported that Sheehy was cited in 2015 for accidentally discharging a gun in Glacier National Park that lodged a bullet in his arm [...] Sheehy’s timeline of events is inconsistent with a park ranger’s 2015 account, which was detailed in a summary the National Park Service released recently. However, he’s resisted releasing medical records that may show when he sustained the bullet wound.”
Huffington Post: “Sheehy’s record isn’t as clear-cut as he’d like voters to believe. Media reporting has shined a light on everything, from inconsistent accounts of how he received a bullet wound, to his aerial firefighting company’s ongoing embrace of climate science while Sheehy’s been on the campaign trail railing against a so-called “climate cult.” [...] In what could prove to be one of his more problematic campaign missteps, Sheehy last year advocated for federal lands to be “turned over” to states — a position that historically has not gone over well with Montana voters.”
NOTUS: “Republican Tammi Fisher, the former mayor of Kalispell and now political podcast host, said that Sheehy’s greatest weaknesses are authenticity and his lack of polish as a first-time candidate. Sheehy and Tester will have their debate this Sunday, and Fisher fears it won’t go well for Sheehy because he hasn’t had the practice of a primary debate under his belt [...] she said Sheehy has a long way to go to make up for his shortcomings, particularly against a Democrat as well regarded in the state as Tester."
NEW WEBSITE SHADYSHEEHYLIES.COM HIGHLIGHTS REPORTING ON SHEEHY’S MOUNTING LIES & INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS
The day after Sheehy officially became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, the Montana Democratic Party launched a new website, ShadySheehyLies.com, calling out Tim Sheehy’s pattern of lies and inconsistencies, highlighting why Montanans can’t trust Tim Sheehy. The party is putting money behind the website to ensure Montanans have the facts about Sheehy’s lies.
MONTANA REPUBLICANS REMAIN SKEPTICAL OF OUT-OF-STATE MULTIMILLIONAIRE TIM SHEEHY
Ahead of Montana’s primary election, Sheehy spent the better part of his campaign dogged by skepticism from Montana Republicans who are frustrated about his candidacy:
Just last week, “many Republicans interviewed by the Montana State News Bureau still have a bad taste in their mouth about how Sheehy became the anointed candidate and are unsure if they will end up voting for him” after Sheehy’s candidacy was pushed by Mitch McConnell and national Republicans. As Eric Olsen, “a Yellowstone County conservative” put it: “How do you fight a billionaire club?”
Great Falls State Senator Jeremy Trebas took shots at Sheehy, saying Sheehy does not have “a whole lot of depth to the issues he's talking about, nor does he have a long knowledge of Montana issues like water rights and public lands.”
Montana Republicans resent Sheehy for the “political assassination of Matt Rosendale:”
Theresa Manzella, chairwoman of the Montana Freedom Caucus: “Eighty percent of us have to agree on an issue to take it up, and [supporting Sheehy is] not an issue we agree on. Warriors like Matt Rosendale are few and far between."
Tracy Sharp, chair of Lake County Republican Party: “Amongst some, there is indeed a feeling that the deck was unjustly stacked against the extremely popular Matt Rosendale by out-of-state interests. Few things get under the skin of Montanans more than such influences injecting themselves into our election process.”
SHEEHY-ALIGNED GROUP OPPOSES BILL PROTECTING BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS
Sheehy’s endorser, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA), an extreme anti-abortion group, attacked the Right to Contraception Act and urgedRepublican senators to vote against the bill that would offer federal protection for contraceptives.
Days later, SBA offered glowing praise of Sheehy after he became the Republican nominee for Senate, calling him “our friend” and saying “we look forward to [...] continuing to work with you for life!” SBA has a national abortion ban “litmus test” for any candidates they endorse, making it clear that Sheehy supports a national abortion ban.
Sheehy has refused to support federal protections for birth control access and remained silent as his top endorser attacked the bill.
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