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Outside-group spending in Montana’s U.S. Senate race approaching $21 million

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HELENA – Outside money continues to pour into Montana’s U.S. Senate race, including more than $4 million the past week or so – pushing the total to nearly $21 million, through last Friday.

In the 10 days ending last Friday, four groups reported spending more than $2.6 million to attack Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, with TV ads, digital ads and mailers.

A Super-PAC affiliated with President Trump, America First Action, reported spending the most money to go after Tester in that period, at $1.37 million.

The other groups spending against Tester in recent days include Restoration PAC, which is funded primarily by Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein, Americans for Prosperity and the Club for Growth.

On the other side, Majority Forward, a group affiliated with Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate, reported spending $1.2 million on ads attacking Tester’s Republican opponent, Matt Rosendale.

New American Jobs Fund, a left-leaning group, also pitched in $325,000 last week on mailers and voter canvassing to assist Tester.

Through last Friday, about $13 million has been spent by outside groups to assist Rosendale or attack Tester. Nearly $8 million has been spent by various groups to assist Tester or attack Rosendale.

Story by Mike Dennison, MTN News