Pence to headline Republican campaign rally in Montana

BELGRADE, Mont. (AP) - Vice President Mike Pence is due to headline a campaign rally in southcentral Montana Monday as Republicans in the state seek to take back the governor’s mansion and retain seats in the U.S. House and Senate.

Pence is scheduled to appear Monday afternoon at the Big Yellow Barn, an event venue in Belgrade, Montana, just west of Bozeman. He has an event earlier in the day in Wisconsin.

Also scheduled to be in attendance are Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who is facing a challenge from Gov. Steve Bullock; U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, who faces Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney in the run for governor; and state auditor Matt Rosendale, who is being challenged by former state legislator Kathleen Williams for Montana’s sole House seat.

The event if open to the public but crowd size is limited because of restrictions due to the coronavirus.

Pence was originally scheduled to attend a fundraiser for the Trump re-election campaign earlier Monday in Bozeman, but cancelled following revelations that the event’s hosts have supported the discredited QAnon conspiracy theory.