Steve Daines traveling 1,100 miles in last days of campaign

Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown

U.S. House of Representatives candidate Montana Steve Daines, R-Billings, chats with Havre resident Stuart Reynolds Thursday afternoon at Havre Republican headquarters.

Steve Daines is traveling 1,100 miles in the last days of his campaign for Congress.

In the past few days, he visited Sidney, Plainville, Scobey, Glasgow, Malta and Chinook before stopping at the Hill County Republican headquarters on 1st Street to rally Republican troops for the final push this weekend and on Tuesday.

In talking to reporters, he said Congress needs someone who can disagree with others on policy but can still be civil, realizing that compromise may be necessary.

He said those traits will be necessary if the United States is to reduce the federal debt, which surpasses $10 trillion.

The budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., now the GOP vice presidential nominee, is a "good starting point" for a discussion on budget reductions.

Daines pointed to his experience in business, which he said would help him

make cuts and prompt government to act more efficiently.

Amassing such a large federal debt amounts to "generational theft, " he said.

Reducing the debt would be a big help in improving the economy and creating more jobs, he said.

The unemployed and under-employed rate for graduating college seniors if 55 percent in Montana, he said.

Daines said traveling Montana has been an exhilarating experience, meeting people and working with the many young people — 18 to 24 years old — who are working in his campaign against Democratic nominee, State Sen. Kim Gillan, D-Billings.

Public polls have given Daines a lead in the race, while most statewide races are deadlocked. But Daines said he and his volunteers will be working until the polls close Tuesday.

Daines said he was pleased with his endorsements by newspapers throughout the state.

Every newspaper that has made an endorsement has supported Daines, including the Montana Standard in the Democratic stronghold of Butte.

He said he was especially happy to get the backing of the Missoulian,.

"I'm a Bobcat, " he said. "I never thought I would get the Missoulian's endorsement, " he said with a laugh.