Big news from Montana:
The Republican State Leadership Committee spent hundreds of thousands on ads and mailers for VanDyke, while Mike Wheat appeared in ads paid for by Montanans for Liberty and Justice, a group primarily funded by Montana trial lawyers.
According to recent estimates, outside groups spent nearly $1 million on ads during the race, compared to just $165,000 raised by the candidates themselves.
About $400,000 was raised to either tout VanDyke or denounce Wheat.