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Local and State Democrats Rally to Get Out The Vote in Great Falls

By Charlie Keegan

Story Created: Oct 31, 2010 at 5:51 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 31, 2010 at 6:01 PM MDT

With the elections only a few days away, democratic leaders and candidates from Montana stopped in Great Falls this afternoon to gain support.

Today's rally featured both US Senators, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State and the Superintendent of Public Instruction along with local candidates hoping to spread the democratic message.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau says it makes a big difference who is controlling the Montana Legislature. Saying, “I think Democrats sitting in those seats in the Legislature will make sure they are paying attention that there are jobs across Montana, that economic development is happening in communities big and small and that quality education is continuing to be adequately funded.”

Attorney General Steve Bullock says issues he deals with, like prescription drug abuse and DUI enforcement, are non partisan. “A lot of the public safety issues, hopefully, cross the board. But there are democratic Legislative candidates here that I think speak a lot to the values we, as Montanans, have,” he says.

With a growing trend around the country seeming to lean towards Republicans, McCulloch says Montana voters aren't always influenced by national politics. Saying, “Montanans are very independent; we like to vote for the person. We look at what the person has to offer, maybe what the person has done in office before.”

No matter who controls the Legislature, McCulloch says her agenda will be the same. “Whenever I make up my agenda for what bills I’m going to take to the Legislature I don’t make those up depending on what the Legislature’s going to look like, it really is the needs of the people of Montana,” she says.

McCulloch says Montanans turn out for elections more than most states because they understand how important it is to vote. Saying, “You vote really is your voice in Montana and our races are often so very close that every single vote counts.”

Bullock says by voting, people get the chance to directly affect decisions in Montana. “At the end of the day, I think elections are about the future,” he says.

Representative Rehberg and the republican rally stopped in Great Falls last week.

The elections are this Tuesday. Tune into NewsChannel 5 for complete election coverage at five, six and ten.

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