BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on Montana’s 2018 election (all times local):
2:45 p.m.
The two sides in Montana’s closely-contested U.S. Senate race are each making a pitch focused on veterans in their closing arguments to voters.
During a Sunday rally in Missoula, two-term incumbent Sen. Jon Tester urged fellow Democrats to get out and vote so the country can live up to promises made to veterans on health care, education and housing.
A day earlier in Bozeman and with the president at his side, Rosendale said Tester in 12 years in office had failed to fix the problems facing veterans.
Rosendale says when he’s elected, veterans can rest assured he and Trump with keep their promises to veterans.
Rosendale was to campaign with Vice President Mike Pence on Monday near Kalispell. Tester planned a final rally in Great Falls with Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.
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10:50 a.m.
A grim reality is setting in for candidates for elected office and backers of two citizens’ initiatives on Montana’s 2018 ballot: There’s a dwindling pool of voters left to grapple over.
The latest figures from Montana’s Secretary of State office show just over 303,000 voters already have turned in their absentee ballots to county election administrators.
Officials expect at least two-thirds of voters to vote absentee this year.
That leaves relatively votes still up for grabs as candidates hold their final rallies and outside groups continue to saturate the airwaves with political advertisements ahead of Tuesday’ election.
Topping the ballot in Montana are races for U.S. Senate and House seats and citizens’ initiatives to raise tobacco taxes and tighten rules on mining pollution.__
10 a.m.
Candidates for Montana’s closely-contested U.S. and Senate and House races are pressing toward the finish line as they try to sway a dwindling number of undecided voters.
Sen. Jon Tester was and House candidate Kathleen Williams, a former state lawmaker, were campaigning together Sunday in Missoula, Hamilton and Butte.
The Democrats plan a final campaign rally on Monday in Great Falls.
Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to appear Monday near Kalispell with Republican Senate candidate Matt Rosendale and Rep. Greg Gianforte.
Rosendale, the state auditor, has been boosted by a White House campaign to unseat Tester. President Donald Trump has gone after the lawmaker after he derailed the president’s first-choice for Veterans Affairs secretary.
Most polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
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