A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte has a website that asks for your contact information and money, but lacks an issues page. It even lacks a biography.
Two of his primary opponents, Brad Johnson and Mark Perea have fully developed websites with biographies and platforms. Johnson is an experienced candidate who knows how to launch a campaign. Perea is a rookie, but he took care to define himself lest others do the defining.
Gianforte is taking no such care. He’s been traveling the state for months in an undeclared campaign mode, listening to voters and speaking his mind. He clearly has some some notion of what he would do as governor — but so far, he’s not nailed his rough hewn planks into even a rudimentary platform.
Therefore the Montana Democratic Party is building his platform for him, issuing press release after press release defining his stands on the issues.
Gianforte’s approach amounts to letting one’s ex-spouse-to-be write one’s briefs in a divorce case. Democrats will not define Gianforte in a way that burnishes his political profile. Why is he letting himself be defined by the Democrats? What kind of political advice is he receiving? And if this advice is coming from his political staff, he may need to adopt Donald Trump’s approach to correcting a mistake in hiring.