Tester eager to highlight and contrast records during October debates

Three U.S. Senate debates scheduled, only one with Libertarian candidate

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana farmer Jon Tester is looking forward to Montana’s three U.S. Senate debates this month as opportunities to speak directly with Montanans, highlighting and contrasting his record and vision for the future.

Tester and Congressman Dennis Rehberg will face off Monday night, October 8, in Billings during a debate hosted by the Billings Gazette—Montana’s largest newspaper. On Sunday, October 14, Tester, Rehberg and Libertarian candidate Dan Cox will take part in a Kalispell debate hosted by the Daily Inter Lake and Flathead Beacon newspapers. The final debate between Tester and Rehberg will take place October 20 in Bozeman, hosted by the Montana Television Network.

“These debates will be important opportunities for Montanans to see firsthand the clear difference between Congressman Dennis Rehberg, a former lobbyist whose wrong priorities hurt Montana—and Jon Tester, a farmer who always puts Montana first,” said Montanans for Tester Campaign Manager Preston Elliott. “Montanans deserve to hear from all candidates whose names are on the ballot, and we encourage all voters to learn about them.”

Cox was not invited to the debates hosted by the Billings Gazette or the Montana Television Network.

Here are details of the upcoming U.S. Senate debates:

DATE: Monday, October 8
TIME: 7-8p Montana Time
LOCATION: Billings: Petro Theater, Montana State University-Billings
PARTICIPANTS: Montana farmer Jon Tester, Congressman Dennis Rehberg
BROADCAST: Montana PBS (TV), Billings Gazette (online), Yellowstone Public Radio, Northern Broadcasting (radio)
SEATING: First come/first serve

DATE: Sunday, October 14
TIME: 7-8:30 p.m. Montana Time
LOCATION: Kalispell: Flathead Valley Community College, Arts and Technology Building “Community Room”
PARTICIPANTS: Montana farmer Jon Tester, Congressman Dennis Rehberg, Dan Cox
BROADCAST: Kalispell Daily Inter Lake (online), Northern Broadcasting (radio)
SEATING: Ticketholders only; randomly drawn by the Daily Inter Lake

DATE: Saturday, October 20
TIME: 9-10 p.m. Montana Time
LOCATION: Bozeman, Riverside Country Club
PARTICIPANTS: Montana farmer Jon Tester, Congressman Dennis Rehberg
BROADCAST: Montana Television Network (CBS affiliates), Northern Broadcasting (radio)
SEATING: Campaign ticketholders only

Tester, Rehberg and Cox were supposed to debate each other on June 24 in Kalispell, but the long-scheduled debate was cancelled because Rehberg, a former lobbyist, claimed it was more important to attend an out-of-state fundraiser.

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