EXCLUSIVE: Montana’s U.S. Senate race has some of the “intense” floor video games of the 2024 cycle with the chamber majority hanging within the stability, in accordance with the chairman of the Republican marketing campaign arm.
Sen. Steve Daines is spearheading Republican efforts to take management of the Senate as chairman of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), with a heightened emphasis on ousting a three-term Democrat in pink state Montana.
Daines completely instructed Fox Information Digital the Montana Senate race pitting Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy in opposition to three-term Democratic Sen. Jon Tester options one of many strongest floor sport efforts from the GOP he has witnessed within the state.
“I’ve watched a lot of Montana Senate races, House races, governor races over the years. This is the most intense ground game operation and the most far-reaching that I’ve seen in many election cycles,” Daines instructed Fox Information Digital. “It’s a door-to-door type of persuasion, as well as a lot of phoning, a lot of digital. So, it’s a really strong ground game, knowing that I think well-run ground games win elections.”
Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, left, and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., pay attention as former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, speaks on the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State College Aug. 9, 2024, in Bozeman, Mont. (Michael Ciaglo)
The New York Instances lately reported that Sheehy is main Tester by eight proportion factors, however Daines emphasised that whereas the Republican candidate stays forward in a number of polls, they’ll proceed energizing their get-out-the-vote efforts till Election Day.
“It’s a very aggressive, active time with just a little over 2½ weeks until the election focused on voter turnout and ground game operations, as well as continuing to have the sufficient resources,” Daines mentioned. “Get the message out to those few undecided voters that are left, whether it’s through television, radio, digital mail. So, we’re not letting up. You keep working hard all the way until Election Day.”
The Montana race figures to be the costliest Senate race on a per-vote foundation, which Daines attributes to its excessive stakes.
“This is what secures the majority for the Republicans and takes the gavel out of Chuck Schumer’s hands,” he instructed Fox. “And that’s why there’s so much focused attention on this race.”
Senators Jon Tester, D-Mont., left, and Steve Daines, R-Mont., movie a message exterior Dirksen Constructing on the significance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine April 27, 2021. (Tom Williams)
In early September, two political forecasters shifted the Montana race from a toss-up to “leans Republican,” together with AARP and the NYT surveys exhibiting the Republican main the race in opposition to the three-term Democrat.
A go to to Bozeman by former President Trump in August, who endorsed Sheehy earlier this yr, contributed to the latest polling shift within the Republican candidate’s favor, in accordance with the chairman.
KEY SENATOR REPORTEDLY BEHIND HARRIS’ RISE IN POWER WITHHOLDS HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR PRESIDENT
The voters in Montana has shifted towards the GOP over time, and Tester stays the one Democrat to carry a statewide workplace within the state.
“I think what’s happened is Montana, in terms of their voting and their thinking, has moved a bit more. But the biggest problem for the Democrats is they’ve moved so far left. This is not the same Democrat Party that I grew up with here in Montana,” Daines mentioned of the pink wave within the state.
Tim Sheehy, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, speaks at a rally supporting former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in Bozeman, Mont., Aug. 9, 2024. (Natalie Behring)
Daines additionally highlighted the nationwide implications of the Massive Sky Senate race.
“This race is bigger than Montana, because this race indeed will decide the future of the United States Supreme Court, the future of the circuit courts,” Daines mentioned. “There’s also the Trump tax cuts that expire in ’25, which would be a massive tax increase for Montana’s small businesses.
“Jon Tester voted in opposition to that tax invoice. I voted for it. Tim Sheehy would vote for that. So, there’s only a lot at stake, not just for Montana however for the nation. And, so, we right here in Montana will most likely be capable to flip the bulk management of the U.S. Senate with Tim Sheehy’s victory. And that has vital implications, not just for the nice state of Montana, however for our nice nation.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
There are 34 Senate seats up for grabs this cycle, and Democrats are protecting 23 of them. The Senate majority stands at 51-50 with Democrats in the majority, meaning just a one seat flip could shift the majority to the Republican Party.
