The major party candidates for Montana’s lone seat in the US House of Representatives, Republican Ryan Zinke and Democrat Denise Juneau, made fewer mentions of their party’s presidential candidates in their second debate than the first. They instead reserved their critiques for each other on Thursday night as they played to each side of the raucous, partisan crowd.  The debate at Petro Theater on the MSU-Billings campus drew a near-capacity crowd of about 400.

 

Campaign organizers divided the seats by placing yard signs in each: Juneau supporters stage right and Zinke supporters stage left.  Each half tried to cheer and boo over the other throughout, particularly as the candidates ignored event rules to issue rebuttals.  At one point, the debate moderator directed the candidates to focus on the questions being asked and suggested they not “hijack” the debate.  Libertarian Mike Fellows was unable to attend due to illness.

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