The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have. – John Lewis

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Missoulian & PSC
• Montana Senate Poll
• Campaign Literature
• Unofficial Ballot Boxes
• The Lincoln Project

MISSOULIAN & PSC:

A faithful reader sent me the link to a Missoulian newspaper endorsement of Republican Jennifer Fielder for the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC). I thought it was a joke. The progressive Missoulian newspaper from progressive Missoula, Montana, was endorsing a far-right winger. Oh hell no!

Then I remembered this is 2020. It’s been a total shitshow.

Just as I was getting ready to write about it, the Missoulian editorial board retracted its endorsement of Fielder and instead endorsed Democrat Monica Tranel:

The Missoulian is retracting its endorsement of Jennifer Fielder in the Montana Public Service Commission race and recommending Monica Tranel.

The editorial board also had this to say:

The Missoulian erred in its initial endorsement and is rescinding it. In short, we blew it.
Monica Tranel is the best choice to represent western Montana on the PSC.

Tranel was always the best choice. We both worked for the late U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, and I know without a doubt that she has the expertise to do the job.

Read the new endorsement HERE.

MONTANA SENATE POLL:

Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a new Montana U.S. Senate poll that shows U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R) and Governor Steve Bullock (D) tied at 48%.

PPP points out that Bullock is winning with independent voters (like me). Winning independents may put him over the top in the end.

As for the race for President, PPP says Donald Trump is likely to win Montana again, but he only holds a 6 point lead (52-46). That represents a considerable decline in his advantage in the state from 2016 when he won it by 20 points.

PPP interviewed 798 Montana voters on October 9th and 10th. The margin of error is +/-3.5%. Read the whole report HERE.

Do you ever wonder if a pollster favors the left or the right or how accurate they are? Check out this handy GUIDE from the FiveThirtyEight blog.

CAMPAIGN LITERATURE (UPDATE):

As I normally do this time of year, I wanted to update readers about how much campaign literature I have received in the U.S. mail, or that was left on my front door.

So far, I have received a total of 86 pieces of campaign literature. Last week I had received a total of 56 pieces.

There are just about 21 days left until Election Day! Make sure you are registered to vote! CLICK HERE.

UNOFFICIAL BALLOT BOXES:

More than 21 million registered voters in California were mailed ballots. Now the Associated Press is reporting that California Republicans have set up their drop boxes at churches, gas stations, and gun shops in at least three California counties. Some are identified as “secure ballot dropoff location,” while others say “approved and bought by the GOP.”

The Republicans have been ordered to take down their drop boxes, but have refused. So this is another election matter that will end up in court.

THE LINCOLN PROJECT:

In case you missed it, 60 Minutes did a segment about The Lincoln Project Sunday night. Watch/Read it HERE. 

The Lincoln Project is a group of longtime Republican strategists who have worked with the likes of John McCain and George W. Bush have launched a scorching campaign against President Donald Trump and is urging people to vote him out of office this November.

Maybe I was ahead of my time. After working to elect Republicans for well over a decade, once I was on the outside looking in, I did not like what I saw. This was around 2010. Now 10 years later, I can say I am a strong independent who will say and write what I feel about Democrats and Republicans.

It has cost me some jobs and friends, but I sleep better at night.

The GOP is not the party of common people or even the middle class (Just look at who is running for Senate, House, and Governor on the Montana GOP ticket this time). Now Trump has taken the GOP further down the toilet, and I have not seen anyone in the party who has the guts to stand up to him.

## VOTE ##