A shadowy new super PAC, seemingly linked to Democrats, has burst onto the scene with a blitz targeting Montana’s Republican Senate hopeful, Tim Sheehy. What’s astonishing is that this assault comes a staggering nine months ahead of the primary elections.
The enigmatic entity, known as Last Best Place PAC, has made a bold $134,000 media buy, spanning both broadcast and cable, slated to air from Tuesday through September 25. Their blistering 30-second ad takes aim at Sheehy, the head of an aerial firefighting firm, portraying him as a multimillionaire who amassed wealth through government contracts and then conveniently walked away from a hefty $770,000 loan.
The intrigue deepens as the PAC, freshly registered just last week, is under no obligation to disclose its funding sources until early next year. However, telltale signs hint at its Democratic affiliations: the PAC’s Federal Election Commission registration form reveals Amalgamated Bank, a favored financial institution among prominent Democratic groups, including the Democratic National Committee.
The media airtime was procured via Mountain Media Agency, a company that shares its address with Old Town Media, a firm actively involved in numerous Democratic campaigns. The address in question is an Alexandria, Virginia townhouse.
Tim Sheehy, a prized recruit for the GOP, is eager to challenge Senator Jon Tester, one of the Democrats’ most vulnerable incumbents. Sheehy has already initiated efforts to define himself in the public eye. However, Republican Representative Matt Rosendale, who faced Tester in 2018, is contemplating entering the race, much to the displeasure of national Republicans seeking a fresh nominee.
The treasurer of the enigmatic PAC, Dave Lewis, refused to confirm any Democratic affiliation in a statement to POLITICO. He insisted that Montanans deserve to understand the true nature of Tim Sheehy, asserting that Sheehy abandoned a loan, evaded Montana taxes, and profited from government contracts.
There’s speculation that this media onslaught could be a ploy to entice Rosendale into the race, an accusation Republicans are already hurling at Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has branded the new super PAC as a “shady Schumer-Tester front group,” accusing it of meddling in the race due to fear of Tim Sheehy. In response, Sheehy’s campaign dismissed it as a “pathetic attempt” to thwart his “inevitable” triumph.
Old Town Media has not yet responded to requests for comment, while the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declined to make a statement.
In the ever-evolving political landscape, this revelation adds a thrilling layer of suspense to Montana’s impending electoral showdown.
