and the race between republican greg gianforte and democrat rob kwis is probably getting more attention than it would have for one reason. the body slam heard around the political world. deputies charged gianforte with misdemeanor assault late last night after a reporter from the guardian newspaper named ben jacobs accused him of body slamming him. it started when jacobs asked him a question about the congressional budget office scoring of health care. so that was last night, this is tonight, and joining us live from montana with the gianforte campaign is nbc news capitol hill reporter kasie hunt watching the results roll in on the big board. our national political correspondent steve kornacki, so that was last night, this is tonight, and joining us live from montana with the gianforte campaign is nbc news capitol
us, garrett hate and steve kornaki. let me start in montana. republicans pulling out another special election win despite all the controversy. what s been the reaction on the ground there? what are folks in montana saying about all of this? well, i can tell you last night the reaction in the room was surprise that gianforte was going to apologize. he got booed a little bit as he started to mention the incident. there s been no surprise here at the victory. gianforte led the polls because he and republican allies have nuked the democrat here, rob kwis with negative campaign ads. turning him from a relatively unknown but liked folk musician into a an untrustworthy guy. most of the folks expect third down win. the only real question was going to be the margin.
bare hands. reporter: well that was the second unusual response to this incident. a tale of two responses. first the campaign put out a statement saying this is all the reporter s fault, he got aggressive and the candidate had no choice. then after the victory, minutes after the race was called, gianforte came out and had a completely different tone. > i m not proud of what happened and i should not have responded the way that i did. i m sorry. you re forgiven. reporter: offering a public apology for the incident that threatened to redial his campaign. i should not have treated that reporter that way. and for that i m sorry, mr. ben jacobs. reporter: the hotly contested campaign between geeian forday and rob kwis blew up last wednesday when a reporter s question to gianforte about the house health care bill landed
right now we are waiting for the final results of this special congressional election in montana. and the race between republican greg gianforte and democrat rob kwis is probably getting more attention than it would have for one reason. the body slam heard around the political world. deputies charged gianforte with misdemeanor assault late last night after a reporter from the guardian newspaper named ben jacobs accused him of body slamming him. it started when jacobs asked him a question about the congressional budget office scoring of health care.
country and bluegrass singer can notch a key victory. states art council member won the democratic nomination on the fourth round of voting yesterday. the race is set to fill the house seat left vacant after ryan zin i can became security secretary. montana is red i every presidential election since 1992. the the state currently has two democrats serving in top positions. governor steve bullock and senator john tester. democrats are hoping strong support for public arts and primary support for bernie sanders can carry him in a race that will likely be a referendum on president donald trump. the republican congressional leaders fund already cut an ad hitting the liberal views and his support for obamacare. rob kwis may be entertaining, but the issues, he s out of tune with montana. quist supports a government health care plan more expensive than obamacare, more government control. fewer health care choices. higher taxes and more spending.