ICYMI: Gianforte ‘incredibly vulnerable,’ political scientist says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 26, 2024
CONTACT
gaby@montanademocrats.org
MSU-Billings prof. reacts to Ryan Busse’s latest fundraising haul, which exceeded Gianforte’s
Helena, MT – Unpopular billionaire governor Greg Gianforte is “incredibly vulnerable” and “losing people,” according to a Montana political scientist who’s closely watching challenger Ryan Busse’s unprecedented, aggressive campaign for governor.
“I think Gianforte may be taking for granted who he is—that he’s a Republican in a Republican state,” MSU-Billings political science professor Paul Pope told the Daily Montanan this weekend. “[Gianforte is] incredibly vulnerable. He’s not expecting to be, so the question is: Can Busse tap into it?”
Pope made the comments while reacting to Busse’s latest fundraising haul, which exceeded Gianforte’s by more than $75,000.
According to public campaign finance reports, Busse and his running mate Raph Graybill raised $525,553 during the fundraising period between June 16 and August 15. Gianforte ended the period with only $449,706.
Pope suggests Gianforte might be more vulnerable than previously thought thanks to his legacy of record-high property taxes, which are hurting working Montanans and their families.
“That’s where (Gianforte) is losing people,” Pope told the Daily Montanan.“The tax cuts and his hype about the property taxes just doesn’t match the follow through.”
“We all know billionaire Greg Gianforte can self-fund his campaigns, but that doesn’t mean he has the support of Montanans being priced out of their own homes thanks to the high cost of living under Gianforte’s disastrous, failed administration,” said Executive Director of the Montana Democratic PartySheila Hogan. “Ryan Busse has laid out a simple plan for cutting property taxes, and his latest fundraising figures show Montanans are fired up and ready for a new governor.”
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