Trump Casts Shadow Over Tightening Montana Special Election

In the closely-watched Montana special congressional election on Thursday, President Trump is the shadow hanging over the race that neither candidate can fully escape — even though they're trying.

The contest to replace Trump's Interior secretary, former GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, has become uncomfortably close in a state the president carried by 20 points. And while both GOP nominee Greg Gianforte and Democratic nominee Rob Quist still hew closely to local and state issues on the campaign trail — like public lands, gun rights and agricultural concerns — the charged national environment and the Republican health care bill, in particular, are playing critical roles in motivating their differing bases in the closing days.

For Montana Democrats, the race is a way to send a message to Washington.

"I think a lot of people that maybe had voted for Trump now look at what's happened in the next 120 some days, and maybe that might throw some people toward voting toward Rob," said Bob Church, age 72, a retired high school government teacher who came out