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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Bernie Sanders To Rally In Missoula, Billings

Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will hold rallies in Missoula and Billings on Wednesday, May 11..
Courtesy Sanders campaign
Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will hold rallies in Missoula and Billings on Wednesday, May 11..

Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will hold rallies in Missoula and Billings on Wednesday. The Sanders rallies are expected to draw big crowds this week.

Nancy Keenan, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party, says this will be a great opportunity for Montana voters.

"And I think that’s good for Democratic politics and an opportunity to hear his message."

Now that Hillary Clinton has 94 percent of the 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, some Democrats say Sanders should bow out. That, they say, would allow her to better focus time and resources on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Others are cheering Sanders on, saying he lends a popular and more progressive voice to the Democratic primary contest.

Nancy Keenan says it’s a healthy discussion in a party that is far less divided than the Republicans.

"The contrast between whoever comes out of the primary on the Democratic side is going to reflect much more mainstream America values and reject the hate, the bullying, the name-calling values that are now the party of the Republicans with Mr. Trump leading that charge.”

Keenan hopes Senator Sanders will address some Montana-specific issues at his Wednesday rallies, including the value of keeping public lands in public ownership, livable wages, and various issues of importance to Montana’s Native Americans.

Some are wondering if Hillary Clinton will hold rallies in Montana next.

Jenny Eck is the new state director of the Hillary for Montana campaign. While there’s no word yet of any Clinton rallies, Eck promises a comprehensive ground game in Montana.

"Secretary Clinton is committed to campaigning in every state — all 50 states — and running a significant ground game in all the states she’s been running in. She’s not taking any votes for granted and is really interested in engaging voters in Montana and making sure she knows who she is and what her message is.”

Wednesday’s Bernie Sanders Rally in Missoula opens at 10:00 a.m. at the Caras Park Pavilion.

The Billings rally opens at 5:00 p.m.

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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