Candidates try to engage Montana voters

In the last full week of campaigning, candidates for federal office are all over the Montana map trying to engage voters, including some stops on the Hi-Line.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Daines scheduled events Monday and today for supporters in Harlowton, Livingston, Big Timber, Hardin, Roundup, Columbus and Red Lodge. Today, he’ll host a private 7 p.m. rally in Billings with Dr. Ben Carson, a conservative Republican neurosurgeon who says he may run for president in 2016. Daines will also participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association in Billings.

Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke was and will be in and around Billings Monday and today and also meeting with the Montana Hospitality and Lodging Association and touring Briggs Distributing Co., a Billings beverage distributor. Zinke is slated to attend tonight’s rally with Daines and Carson. Zinke also released a new ad Sunday night that attempts to link his Democratic opponent, John Lewis, to President Barack Obama’s positions on the national health care overhaul, government spending and energy.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Curtis will attend a candidate forum today at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Montana where student voters can meet candidates for county, state and federal offices.

Lewis is meeting with his campaign team about a final whirlwind tour of the state and has a rally in Helena with supporters tonight. Lewis has also put out an ad highlighting his endorsements by Montana newspapers.

Later in the week, Lewis and Curtis are scheduled to travel to Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation Thursday for a rally at 8 a.m. at the Rocky Boy’s Agency, followed by a rally in Havre at 11 a.m at the Eagles Club, and another rally will follow at Aaniiih Nakoda College on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservtion.