Montana Senate candidate fights attacks on his military service

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.