Why the Montana Gov's COVID Response Is Making the GOP Nervous

[catbyte]

“I think the coronavirus thing has been advantageous to him from a political standpoint," said Montana Senate President Scott Sales.

Hunter Woodall

Politics Reporter
Published May. 10, 2020 5:22AM ET

Montana Senate President Scott Sales was already worried that Gov. Steve Bullock would be a tough challenge to Sen. Steve Daines’ re-election chances.

Then the coronavirus shut down the country.

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While some state leaders shepherding their states through the pandemic are running for re-election this year, Bullock is the only sitting governor trying to unseat an incumbent Senator in a key Democratic race. And as several governors face considerable backlash over their handling of their respective states at this stage of the pandemic, Bullock’s reopening approach has gone largely unnoticed nationally despite the implications for control of the U.S. Senate in a state President Donald Trump won overwhelmingly in 2016.

“That's going to be a dog fight and Steve Daines is in the fight of his life in my opinion,” said Sales, who supports Daines. “And I think Bullock is well positioned. He's going to be extremely competitive.”

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-the-montana-govs-covid-response-is-making-the-gop-nervous

[GusBob]

1. Life on the Frontier

With low population density, no large airports, wide open spaces etc. wyoming has more cases than Montana for cripes sake

There was a model in the NYTimes with projections
From max intervention to no intervention the spread of the virus. Montana was like the only place in the country with areas of minimal impact with no intervention

The county I live in has 1 known case

He wins by geographic fiat

[Laelth]

2. That's encouraging. n/t

-Laelth

[2naSalit]

3. Not entirely...

Bullock has a good track record, especially in dealing with the pandemic. He initiated stay at home early and we are only partially open. He was also quick to respond to the incoming population who showed up in March and doubled the state's population within a couple weeks.

There are plenty of idiot supporters who won't wear masks and get too close in the grocery stores and look at you with a mask like you're some kind of lowlife who crawled in from the gutter. As soon as partial restrictions were lifted, about a third of the folks in my area just went back to being out. A few desperate restaurants and businesses are open now. One of the predictive models showed Montana having a peak in late June so I am staying with the stay at home. It isn't like all restrictions are lifted. Tourism is taking a big hit, and will this entire year. The parks are all still closed and anyone arriving from outside the state is required to self quarantine for 14 days. We do have testing to some degree and I'm not seeing major jumps in cases at this time though that could change.

He also declared that all voting this year will take place by mail. We already have that as an option and at least a third of the voters in the state use that option.

Bullock is a good civil servant, I'll be voting and campaigning for him.

[GusBob]

4. That too

Thanks for pointing that out

Are the State Parks closed? I thought different
Our county park ( the largest in the nation)is open
I went to the Bearpaw Battlefield yesterday it was open. I think thats Federal tho

Heading in a bit to fish the county park

[2naSalit]

5. Most of the state facilities are open.

Looks like those that remain closed are those with enclosures where physical distance is not possible. Some fishing is still closed.

Being that we have a lot of wide pen space, it's mostly only when we are indoors that presents a challenge. My landlady goes hiking nearly every day out in the forest, now takes the horses. I go out and garden but our neighbors are not nearby either. Most folks just stand a little further apart while going about their business. There's a classic and historic burger stand in town and when it's busy, folks are keeping their distance in line and some waiting in their cars rather than gathering like the social event it used to be.

Social distancing is a norm around here, most of us aren't having a hard time with it. But many of us are wearing masks when we go into public places too.

[GemDigger]

6. International airports and a massive amount of third, fourth or fifth homes.

He closed us down before it got bad. He was thinking of next week or next month. Do not belittle his intelligence or the people of Montana.

[murielm99]

7. I have family there, and I love that state.

I spent many summers there when I was a kid.

No one in the Midwestern part of my family would ever disrespect you. I hope Bullock wins.

Several years ago, Schweitzer was the keynote speaker at our Governor's Day brunch in Illinois. He explained to us how the Canadian health care system came about. I had hoped he would go further in national politics. There is hope yet, if we get a Biden Presidency. We need the West!

[Delmette2.0]

8. My sister lives in a small mountain town. Guess what?

The local airport has slowly lengthened the runway and there are now at least 8 private hangers.

The rich out of staters fly in, swap the plane for the car or SUV that has been in the hanger. No one really knows they are here and they can drive around without the 14 day isolation.

I like and appreciate everything Bullock has done and I will vote for him, enthusiastically. It's just that the rich always have a way around the rules laws meant to keep everyone safe.

[msongs]

9. if we moved 50K dems there could we get all the elected offices? nt