2 Montanans to appear at GOP convention

Montana will have a real presence at the Republican National Convention that begins in earnest on Tuesday.

Former Gov. Tim Babcock will lead the convention in the Pledge of Alligance just after the convention opens.

Babcock, governor from 1962 to 1969, is attending his 12th consecutive GOP convention as a delegate. He will share pledge duties with Korean War Marine veteran Tom Hogan.

Republican congressional ccandidate Steve Daines will address the convention at 12:50 p.m. MST.

Daine said he will talk about his Montana roots. He is a fifth generation Montanan.

My great-great-grandmother came from Norway and homesteaded in northern Montana ," said Daines. "There are some valuable lessons that our leaders in Washington can learn from a Montana widow of seven children."

Daine is running against Democratic State Sen. Kim Gillan, D-Billings, in the Nov. 6 elections. The winner will succeed Dennis Rehberg who is running for the U.S. Senate.

All cable news networks are telecasting the convention, but many cut away from the speeches.

C-SPAN, Channel 19 on the Bresnan cable system, will carry gavel-to-gavel coverage.