What They’re Saying: “Rosendale’s foes landed some punches that could reverberate”

Not the GOP’s first choice, a carpetbagger, and a fake rancher – that’s what they’re saying about wealthy East Coast developer Matt Rosendale on the first day of Montana’s general election campaign.

See for yourself how the Republicans’ criticism of Rosendale during the primary is already dragging down Maryland Matt:

Associated Press: None of the four GOP candidates running Tuesday was the party’s first choice.

Helena Independent Record: Fagg…repeatedly dinged Rosendale and Downing for not being from Montana originally.

Missoula Current: Fagg, in turn, questioned Rosendale’s credentials and suggested the victor’s claims that he is a Montana rancher ‘all hat and no cattle’ since he leases out the ranch and raises no livestock.

MTN: Fagg…noted that Rosendale moved to Montana 15 years ago and will be tagged by Democrats as a carpetbagger.

Roll Call: Rosendale became the party’s top pick after other statewide elected officials passed on the race. He was a real estate developer in Maryland until 2002.

• The state Democratic Party has already tarred Rosendale as “Maryland Matt,” a moniker that a super PAC called Principles First PAC used in TV advertising against him in the primary, too.
• State Democrats also seized on a report from Talking Points Memo last week that said Rosendale, despite identifying himself foremost as a rancher, has never owned any cattle.
• That came after revelations that his signature appeared on two forms that had boxes checked indicating he was a Maryland resident in 2015.

The Hill: Rosendale’s foes landed some punches that could reverberate in the general election. Rosendale has long faced criticism for moving from Maryland in the 2000s, with former Billings Judge Russell Fagg attempting to frame him as a carpetbagger.

TPM: Democrats say (and some Republicans admit) that Tester starts off as the favorite given his strong fundraising and folksy brand. Democrats also believe they can tar Rosendale, who spent most of his life in Maryland as a real estate developer before moving to Montana more than 15 years ago, as a carpetbagger.

Politico: Fagg attempted to paint the state auditor as a carpetbagger — Rosendale moved to Montana in 2002 and still speaks with an accent from his native Maryland.

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