Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh (D) released his military records, pushing back on attacks from the Senate candidate’s opponents on his service.
Walsh is the front-runner and establishment favorite for the nomination to replace retiring Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.).
{mosads}He has faced accusations that he improperly used his position as an adjutant general in the Montana National Guard to support a veterans’ group that advocates for better equipment for armed services members, accusations that included reports of a 2010 Army investigation that reprimanded him for pressuring lower-ranked soldiers to support the group.
“I’ve been with my soldiers when they’ve been fired upon and when they’ve been taken off the field on stretchers,” Walsh said Sunday at a news conference at his campaign headquarters in downtown Helena, according to the Missoulian.
“It’s because of them, and all American heroes, that I will never stop fighting to ensure that they receive the best equipment and training available.”
Walsh is facing an uphill race against Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and has a primary opponent as well, so negative stories about his military service — the strongest part of his campaign biography — could erode his chances of keeping the seat in Democratic hands.