I'll be watching with curiosity tonight to see if Greg Gianforte (R) wins in what was previously considered a "close" election (according to "polls"). The election results become available after 8 PM Montana time (4 PM Hawaii time).

I notice that the reporter who witnessed the event has now walked back her claim that "he put his hands around his neck" and then "body slammed" him to the floor. I also see that the New York Times doesn't mention that fact.

Apparently approximately 70% of the expected vote was by early voter mail-in ballots, so the event yesterday wouldn't impact the majority of votes, but since it's supposed to be "close", the last minute blitz by Dems to get out the vote could make a difference.

Personally I can never believe that Montana has any Democrats in office at all, much less a governor and a Senator. Apparently all those California escapees bring their idiotic communist socialist progressive politics with them when they leave the PRK. And the Ninth Circuit chief judge, Sydney Thomas of dissent in the Peruta original three judge panel, and on the en banc panel that concluded there is no constitutional right to carry concealed weapons in public... was born and raised in Montana... go figure.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/us/montana-special-election.html?_r=0

I will wait to judge the event when either a video of the event surfaces or he is convicted of assault.  Other than that its a case of he said, she said. 

Without video its impossible to decide 100% but this doesn't look good. 

That ain't no new thing. Remember when Trump kicked McMahon's ass?

Gianforte has been declared the winner by the New York Times. Not "close" as the "pollsters" had forecast (where have we seen that before?). So either 1. too many people who may have changed their mind after the incident, and effected the outcome by changing their vote from Gianforte to Quist, had already voted early by mail, or 2. The people of Montana don't care about the incident, or 3. (Given the larger margin of victory than "forecast") The people of Montana thought it was about time some pushy biased reporter who was in an unpermitted area and wouldn't take no for an answer three times after being told to stop interrupting another interview got put in his place in a no nonsense way ("It's about time!") and decided to vote FOR Gianforte.

Something to possibly look forward to in future elections!

CANDIDATE   PARTY   VOTES   PCT.   

Greg Gianforte (R) 163,666   50.6%   
Rob Quist (D)         140,612   43.5   
Mark Wicks (Lib).     18,882     5.8   

77% reporting (524 of 681 precincts)

From The Hill:

Both Republicans and Democrats were predicting that the race was within just a few points in the days before the election, with some talk of a potential Quist upset.
 
But Gianforte's lead remains strong—he's at 50 percent right now with 65 percent of precincts reporting, according to the New York Times. Quist still sits at 44 percent, below where most had predicted him to fall.

Democrats set cars and buildings on fire, spray paint buildings, steal yard signs. assault Trump supporters with bike locks and pepper spray, and riot over colleges inviting right wing speakers all the time now.

But one Republican gets out of line at a Guardian reporter who wasn't supposed to be there, and it's a pox on the entire party all the way to Trump.

Give me a break.

Looks like the Russians hacked Montana.....   

As much as the every day Joe hates the MSM, my bet is that this guy body slamming the reporter probably got him more votes!!! 

The guy might get sued but you must admit he is a genius!!!

BTW, I think he handled himself properly throughout this whole affair (after the body slam). He admitted guilt and apologized a couple of times. Didn't try to blame DJT for what he did like the trolls on some other boards are doing right now.

I was curious how the New York Times would "report" the results of the election, suspecting there just might possibly be some "spin". They can't help themselves.

Greg Gianforte, Montana Republican, Captures House Seat Despite Assault Charge

[I'm sure the headline, had Clinton won the presidency would have been "Hillary Clinton, New York Democrat, Captures Presidency Despite Multiple Criminal Investigations". Sure it would have been.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/us/montana-special-election.html?_r=0

National Democrats were pessimistic about Mr. Quist’s prospects from the start and privately said their polling never indicated that he was making significant progress against Mr. Gianforte.

[So all that hyping of the need to get out the vote because the gap was narrowing significantly, it might be a toss up, and it was really close, was all just lies, because they knew all along it wasn't close?]

Mr. Gianforte’s capture of the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke spares his party the short-term pain of losing a reliably Republican seat in Congress, but at the cost of having the newest member of the House majority arrive in Washington under a serious legal cloud.

Mr. Gianforte still faces a misdemeanor assault charge that will require him to appear in a Montana courtroom next month.

[That's a "serious legal cloud"? What was that thing around Clinton re Benghazi, around the "private server", or around Holder and Obama re Fast and Furious, etc. etc etc.? I'm looking forward to seeing the medical reports including the photos of the injuries sustained by the reporter. I really wish this would go to a Montana jury.]

I was curious how the New York Times would "report" the results of the election, suspecting there just might possibly be some "spin". They can't help themselves.

Greg Gianforte, Montana Republican, Captures House Seat Despite Assault Charge

[I'm sure the headline, had Clinton won the presidency would have been "Hillary Clinton, New York Democrat, Captures Presidency Despite Multiple Criminal Investigations". Sure it would have been.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/us/montana-special-election.html?_r=0

National Democrats were pessimistic about Mr. Quist’s prospects from the start and privately said their polling never indicated that he was making significant progress against Mr. Gianforte.

[So all that hyping of the need to get out the vote because the gap was narrowing significantly, it might be a toss up, and it was really close, was all just lies, because they knew all along it wasn't close?]

Mr. Gianforte’s capture of the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke spares his party the short-term pain of losing a reliably Republican seat in Congress, but at the cost of having the newest member of the House majority arrive in Washington under a serious legal cloud.

Mr. Gianforte still faces a misdemeanor assault charge that will require him to appear in a Montana courtroom next month.

[That's a "serious legal cloud"? What was that thing around Clinton re Benghazi, around the "private server", or around Holder and Obama re Fast and Furious, etc. etc etc.? I'm looking forward to seeing the medical reports including the photos of the injuries sustained by the reporter. I really wish this would go to a Montana jury.]

Actually, I heard during the voting yesterday morning that the guy had already won due to the early voting ballots cast for him already put him over the top.

What I find interesting is how casually dressed this guy and especially his wife are. They are not your typical political pundit insiders.

Also, I wonder how much having an Italian last name helped him win? 

Greg Gianforte, Montana Republican, Captures House Seat Despite Assault Charge Grabbing Pussy

Fixed it.

Didn't watch the video yet, but from what I heard/read about the situation, sounds like a good outcome.  Some to many reporters can go to far and they hide under rights/protections.  Being an asshole is still being an asshole.  While not illegal, sometimes assholes need to have karma come back and slap them in the fact.  I'm not saying that's exactly what went on in this situation, just my feelings about situations that this one reminds me of. 

It is Montana after all. We're definitely in a different political environment where politicians can dress casually and assault reporters.

I was reading the transcripts from the Rush Limbaugh show. His first caller actually said that Gianforte body slamming the reporter has guaranteed that he will continue to vote for Gianforte. The whole time Rush was like we don't approve of hurting anyone. Then the guy comes back and says he deserved it! 

Never amazes me the different opinions we Americans have when we have the right to free speech.

I was reading the transcripts from the Rush Limbaugh show. His first caller actually said that Gianforte body slamming the reporter has guaranteed that he will continue to vote for Gianforte. The whole time Rush was like we don't approve of hurting anyone. Then the guy comes back and says he deserved it! 

Never amazes me the different opinions we Americans have when we have the right to free speech.

Texas had a law that if 3 citizens of upstanding character testified that the deceased "needed killing," then the killing was justified.

Texas had a law that if 3 citizens of upstanding character testified that the deceased "needed killing," then the killing was justified.

So by your logic, if 3 people from Montana testified that the reporter had it coming to him and he deserved it then Gianforte was justified in body slamming the reporter?

I can live with that. 

So by your logic, if 3 people from Montana testified that the reporter had it coming to him and he deserved it then Gianforte was justified in body slamming the reporter?

I can live with that. 

Falls in line with Gallagher's idea of giving drivers a suction-cup dart gun.  Whenever you see another driver do something stupid or illegal, you pop them on the side or trunk with  a dart.

Then, if a Cop sees a car driving down the street with a dozen darts all over it, give that guy a ticket!  He's obviously doing stuff wrong.  The other drivers have marked him for easy identification!   

So by your logic, if 3 people from Montana testified that the reporter had it coming to him and he deserved it then Gianforte was justified in body slamming the reporter?

I can live with that. 

Definition of "body slammed" in this case:

"After telling him three times to quit interrupting my talking with reporters arranging an interview I pushed his phone out of my face and he grabbed my hand and fell backward pulling me down on top of him".