Politics can be brutal – at least in Montana. A U.S. Senate campaign showcased the ugly side of politics when a Democratic environmental activist hit a Republican candidate’s wife with a rolled up campaign sign, The Daily Caller reports. After a political debate at Buck’s T-4 restaurant in Big Sky, Montana between Republican senatorial challenger Denny Rehberg and Democratic incumbent Jon Tester two separate altercations took place where Democrats allegedly accosted members of the GOP and a journalist. Libertarian candidate Dan Cox also participated in the debate.
The Montana U.S. Senate debate focused primarily on the same topics as the the presidential election – jobs, health care and the economy. The debate was heated yet professional until the socializing with the candidates segment occurred. A Democrat supported allegedly entered into a physical altercation with GOP candidate’s Rehberg’s wife Jan, according to NBC Montana News.
A female Tester supporter in her late-thirties allegedly tried to push her way into the middle of a group which included Congressman Rehberg, his wife and daughter. After “exchanging words” with the group while Rehberg was taking questions from he media, the female Democrat allegedly “began hitting” Jan Rehberg with a rolled up cardboard Tester sign. Managing partner of the Buck T-4 David O’Conner threw the alleged offender out of the facility.
Earlier the same evening local Democratic supporter Rachel Vaughn, who had allegedly heckled Rehberg during the debate, “slapped” the wrist of a Watchdog.org journalist in an alleged attempt to knock his recording device from his hand. Dustin Hurst shared his audio recording of the altercation with the Daily Caller, noting he was not planning on pressing charges.
A Rasmussen poll taken the week of the debate notes that Rehberg is leading Tester 49 to 47 percent.
