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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Bullock Fails To Qualify For Third Democratic Debate

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, August 16, 2018.
Clay Masters
/
Iowa Public Radio
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, August 16, 2018.

After not qualifying for the third Democratic Party debate, Gov. Steve Bullock is campaigning in Iowa. Bullock is continuing his presidential bid despite trailing well behind the front-runners in polling and fundraising numbers.

On the afternoon before the top 10 Democratic presidential hopefuls debate in Houston, Bullock was scheduled to meet with the former first lady of Iowa at a brewery to talk with voters.

Bullock has qualified for one of the three nationally televised primary debates. He missed Thursday night’s stage by not having at least 130,000 unique donors from 20 states and not reaching 2 percent in qualifying polls.

Bullock’s campaign reportedly sent a memo courting donors earlier this week saying the Democratic party primary is far from over.

His campaign is concentrating efforts in Iowa, where voters will caucus in early February.

The two-term Democratic governor is pitching a moderate message and arguing for his electability on the credentials of winning reelection the same year Trump carried Montana by 20 points.

Corin Cates-Carney manages MTPR’s daily and long-term news projects. After spending more than five years living and reporting across Western and Central Montana, he became news director in early 2020.
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