Influential Montana Senator Sums Up the Battleground States

Montana's Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) is the influential chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). He has one job this election: win back the Republican majority in the US Senate.

Needless to say, with less than a week till election day- he is feeling good about the way the map is shaping up. 

Senator Daines: "Hard to believe we're six days out. Look, we're encouraged. It's remarkable how across some of these battleground states we've watched President Trump's numbers strengthen, and similarly now on these Senate races we are virtually in a tie in Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Pennsylvania- we're up a little bit in Ohio- and of course in Montana, Sheehy's stuff is just looking great, and Tim Sheehy's gonna win Montana."

Daines says the problem we have right now might be complacency.

Senator Daines: "It's going to be so important, and we'll start right here in Montana, Aaron- that we show up and vote. You know, you might have someone whose absentee ballot is sitting here on my kitchen table. I haven't filled it out yet, or I fill it out, haven't mailed it. Now you probably need to hand carry it into the courthouse. But think about- if 1,000 Montanans repeat that same message to themselves, that's 1,000 votes. It's 10,000 votes. It could decide elections here in Montana. So we've just got to show up and vote and make sure we've got a big day. Montana will be the 51st seat when Tim Sheehy is elected."

Daines also talked about the importance of re-electing former Trump Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (R-MT01) in the Western Congressional District, especially as Democrats are using dirty tricks and funding ads promoting Libertarian or Constitution party candidates to try and take away votes from Republicans.

Senator Daines: "We as Montanans have a very important job to do, not only for our state, but for our country. Because first the Senate race, that's the 51st seat for President Trump in the Senate. That's why President Trump came to Montana in August. He came here for Tim Sheehy. But second is the House. This is one of the battleground potential swing districts. That newly drawn western district is a tougher district for Republicans to hold. I've known Ryan Zinke since we were both in Boys State in 1979. He was a junior at Whitefish High School. I was a junior Bozeman high way back when. I've known Ryan a long time. He's running a really good race, but they're pouring a lot of money into the Western seat. They are smearing a lot more lies about Ryan, and they're trying to prop up the Libertarian candidate to draw votes away from Ryan Zinke. I don't think Montanans will be fooled by that, but we've got to make sure that there's a strong turnout for Ryan Zinke.

Here's the full audio of our chat with Senator Daines: