Tester: A no vote on Kavanaugh is obvious

Incumbent Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and his Republican challenger Montana state auditor Matt Rosendale argued over Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh in a debate Saturday.

{mosads}Tester focused on Kavanaugh’s judicial record rather than sexual assault allegations made against the nominee.

Tester spoke about researching the candidate deeply, finding a few issues that he felt were disqualifying for his vote, including his involvement in mass surveillance and the Patriot Act as two issues that violate the 4^th Amendment.

Tester also said that Kavanaugh had supported laws that have allowed ‘dark money’ to influence elections, and that his opinions about the government’s role in healthcare were bad.

When it was Rosendale’s chance to address the nomination, he emphasized how “disgusted” he was with how the process had been handled.

Rosendale expressed sympathy for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Kavanaugh of attempted rape when they were in high school, but said that Kavanaugh is a “commendable man” and has been smeared as well.

Rosendale also hit Tester for not meeting with Kavanaugh.

In the back-and-forth period on this issue, Tester said that he had put days he was available out to the White House but they just did not work out. 

According to poll from Gravis Marketing released Sept. 25 Tester leads Rosendale 49 to 45 percent, outside of the margin of error of 3.7 points.