Fox Slams Gianforte for Missing Gubernatorial Debate in Helena
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox said on Wednesday’s Talk Back on KGVO that he and fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Dr. Al Olszewski would meet in Helena for a debate on November 26, even though U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte said he could not attend.
On Monday night, the Lewis and Clark Republican Committee cancelled the debate because of Gianforte’s absence, but Fox said he and Dr. Al would debate anyway.
“Some time ago I issued a challenge for all of us Republican candidates to meet for a series of 10 debates all across the state so that Montana voters could hear their vision for the state,” said Fox. “Dr. Al said he was in, but then, it was just crickets from the Gianforte campaign. Then they started delaying, they wanted to have a meeting and then they said there was no need to have a debate before the end of the year, and they didn’t have the schedule for Congress for next year yet, etc, etc, excuse after excuse.”
Fox said Gianforte exerted pressure on the Lewis and Clark committee and they cancelled the debate.
“We’re still going to have it, we think it’s important, and Lee Newspapers said they would stream the debate live from Helena on November 26,” he said. “It’s unfortunate they the Congressman didn’t want to cooperate, but hopefully we can get some in next year.”
The Gianforte campaign responded to Fox's interview on KGVO with the followig statement:
Gianforte Campaign Statement on Tim Fox’s attacks regarding Debates:
“Despite knowing for several weeks that his proposed date didn’t work for Greg’s schedule, Tim Fox worked to schedule a debate 2 days before Thanksgiving anyway. The fact is Tim Fox is trailing by double-digits in every poll, is struggling with fundraising support and his campaign is stumbling. Desperate campaigns do desperate things when they realize they are losing, this is just more of the same desperate and false attacks that have been coming from Tim Fox for months. Greg looks forward to participating in the January 23rd debate that all of the candidates have agreed to.” -- Jake Eaton, campaign manager for the Gianforte campaign
Fox, Gianforte and Olszewski are the three Republican candidates for governor. Running on the Democratic ticket are current Lt, Governor Mike Cooney, Reilly Neill, Casey Schreiner and Whitney Williams.