Libertarian Sid Daoud, who is running for U.S. Senate in Montana, recently told Montana Public Radio that he is not leaving the race. Daoud was singled out by Donald Trump at a rally in Bozeman last Friday, with Trump teasing a “nice surprise” involving him.
According to Montana Public Radio, Daoud did not expect to receive a shoutout from Trump during the rally, nor did he anticipate Trump’s claim that Daoud had a surprise for the audience, implying an endorsement might be forthcoming. Daoud commented during an interview, “There was a clear message. And I got it. But you know I’m a bullheaded ex-Army sergeant and you can’t really encourage me or make me do anything I don’t want to do.”
Independent Political Report first reported on Monday that Trump had singled out Daoud during the rally, calling him his “Libertarian friend” before praising him and telling the audience that Daoud would have a “very nice surprise very soon.” Shortly after these statements, social media began speculating that Daoud might either exit the race to endorse Trump or Republican Senate challenger Tim Sheehy, or that he was the Libertarian cabinet choice Trump teased during an earlier speech to the Libertarian National Convention.
It was later learned following the rally that Libertarian National Committee Chair Angela McArdle and a group of Libertarians, including Daoud, had met with Trump and Tim Sheehy to discuss legislation related to the Defend the Guard Act, as well as their respective campaigns.
Montana Public Radio also reported that Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana was present during the earlier meeting. The Republicans reportedly never explicitly asked Daoud to drop out but suggested that his withdrawal would help the GOP retain control of the Senate.
Does anyone on the Libertarian National Committee know the full extent of the dealings between McArdle and the Trump and RFK campaigns? Have any other LNC members participated in these meetings, or seen videos or transcripts of them, or are they being kept in the dark as much as the rest of our party?
Good on Sid Daoud for not buckling to the Republican pressure to drop out. But not so great for Libertarian Party leaders to be having secret meetings with Donald Trump and other Republicans. After all her backroom dealings, cozying up to Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, and mixed messages and lukewarm support for the ticket of Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat nominated by our convention delegates, Angela McArdle’s commitment to not just transparency, but to the LP and libertarianism are very much in doubt at this point. I urge her to show some integrity by resigning, and not carrying on the farce of half-heartedly representing the Libertarian Party and the freedom for which it stands.
Good.
What is Daoud’s record in local office or is this just a ballot access thing?
Anyone?