Court Decision Puts Hill Campaign at Standstill in Montana
Montana GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Hill's campaign says they've cancelled ads, polls, and a tour of the state during the final week of the election after a judge ordered the campaign to cease using a contested $500,000 donation, the Billings Gazette reports.
Early this month, a judge struck down campaign finance limits in the state, and the Republican Governors Association donated $500,000 to the state GOP, which they gave to Hill. But just a few days later, an appeals court reinstated the limits.
Hill's campaign continued to spend the half million donation. Last week, a district judge ordered him to stop spending while she reviewed whether it was legal to continue using the money. And Monday, the campaigns appeared in court, with Hill's arguing that the temporary order should be dropped -- and Democratic nominee Steve Bullock's campaign arguing it should be extended.
"We are effectively dark on radio and television right now," (Hill's campaign manager) Brock Lowrance testified in District Court. Asked about the decision's impact as the Nov. 6 election approaches, Lowrance said, "You're not out there the final week. It's a critical time." However, the Hill campaign has received $166,000 -- a $100,000 loan from Hill and $66,000 in donations -- since the temporary order went into effect and expects to begin advertising again by Tuesday at the latest, he said. State District Judge Kathy Seeley of Helena heard arguments Monday but did not rule immediately. Seeley told Hill's attorney that she was not prepared at that time to dismiss the Bullock campaign.
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