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Just a couple of days after another federal probe made another dent in the record of former U.S. Navy Seal Ryan Zinke, the national prognosticators still had him pegged as the easy victor in Montanas U.S. House of Representatives race.

Political analysts say scandals, which have clouded Zinkes public persona even before Outside Magazine published a photo that showed he rigged a fly rod backwards, might not stick in this day and age.

So one more report concluding Zinke lied might not register with voters.

The GOPs man has won before, of course.

Zinke trounced a Democrat in 2014 with 55.4 percent of the vote, and then again in 2016, with a push on the ballot from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and an even greater win, 56.2 percent.

This week, federal investigators said he knowingly misled them as former Secretary of the Interior about his interactions with corporate casino lobbyists pushing him to disapprove a rival project.

His opponent in this years election, Monica Tranel, is the natural underdog. The Missoula lawyer has never held national office, shes campaigning as a Democrat in a state that runs red, and shes got an uphill slog.

Friday, the forecast from Sabatos Crystal Ball said GOP victory is likely in Montanas western district. FiveThirtyEight marks Zinke the winner 98 times out of 100.

Asked about the prediction at a recent campaign event, Tranel said the analysts need to take a closer look at the district. She also points to the other side of the coin projecting shell likely lose.

We win two times out of 100, Tranel said.

Twice as many times as she needs.

***

This year, new and different currents are pushing at the race, and political analysts say a hint of unpredictability is tracing through the waters.

The national landscape is politically shifty, with inflation in a peppy climb. Fallout is still unfolding from the Jan. 6 hearings and Roe v. Wade reversal. And in Montana, the western district itself is new.

So the bright red predictions arent necessarily well grounded, said Jeremy Johnson, political scientist with Carroll College in Helena.

Theres just very little polling in the western district where hes running so far, Johnson said. So theres very little for them (national forecasters) to go on right now.

To push out the presumed favorite, Johnson said Democrats will have to fight against national headwinds and break through tribalization and political polarization, an arduous but not impossible task.

I think theres at least potential vulnerabilities, Johnson said. Whether they actually manifest themselves in the election? Obviously, the national prognosticators dont think its that likely.

Inside Elections also counts the new district as likely Republican.

If the Democrats are to win, theyll need to make sure the electorate is aware of the questionable conduct associated with Zinke and make the case that its discrediting, Johnson said.

The recent report is the second this year from the Inspector Generals Office of the Department of the Interior that said the former Secretary knowingly provided investigators inaccurate and incomplete information. A February report found Zinke wasnt truthful about his involvement in a Whitefish development.

Zinkes campaign has called the findings politically motivated, a smear.

These days, though, voters have shorter attention spans, and impropriety that might have sunk a political candidate just a couple of years ago might flutter off the radar.

For Dems to flip the script?

Can you focus on voters who are willing to be persuaded? Johnson said.

***

Montanans sometimes pride themselves on not voting straight tickets.

Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball, noted just six U.S. Senators out of 100 represent states that their party did not support for president.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, a Democrat, is one.

So Montana actually does have a little bit of that tradition of crossing over a bit, Kondik said. But its an exception at this point.

Tester has won in nail biters.

However, in 2018 in counties that now make up the western district, he did so by 10 points against Republican Matt Rosendale. In those counties, Tester earned 53.8 percent of the vote to Rosendales 43.6 percent. A Libertarian took 2.6 percent.

In the 2020 race for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Steve Bullock lost to incumbent Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, by a margin of 10 points in Montana.

In the western district, that margin shrunk to 1.44 points without a third-party candidate on the ballot.

In other words, had a Libertarian earned just 1.5 percent of the vote going to Daines one point less than the 2.6 percent the third-party candidate took in 2016 Bullock would have won that district.

At a recent campaign event, Tranel pointed out that Zinke came out of the primary with nearly 60 percent of Republican voters selecting another candidate, and she came out of it with 65 percent of the vote from her party and more total votes than any other candidate.

Kondik agreed Zinke had problems in the primary: Hes certainly the bigger named candidate, but he only barely won.

On the other hand, hes a Republican. That counts in Montana, it counts in an increasingly nationalized political scene, and it counts against the Democrat.

Youre working against that polarization, and people with strongly partisan identities who often dont want to hear negative things about their own candidate and who will often dismiss their relevance, Johnson said.

***

In the Zinke campaigns response this week to the report from the Inspector Generals Office, white collar criminal defense lawyer Danny Onorato touted his clients integrity and record of service.

Zinke has described previous investigations into ethical misconduct as harassment. His lawyer also points to his resume.

Zinke counts 23 years of military service. He served as a state senator for two terms, as a congressman elected in 2014 and 2016, and as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from March 2017 to January 2019.

Christina Barsky, political analyst with the University of Montana, said the military service on Zinkes resume resonates with Montanans because they are civically engaged and count a higher rate of public service compared to people in many other states.

Also a factor, and in any race, is the short attention span of the American public. Its an age where everyone is watching at all times, and Barsky said anyone in the public eye is vulnerable, although not always for long.

Its impossible in this day and age, ultimately, for politicians to come out unscathed, even the people that are acting in good faith and are fulfilling their ethical obligations, said Barsky, faculty with the Department of Public Administration and Policy at UM.

On the other hand, Montanans dont like to be embarrassed.

And Zinkes actions have raised questions about his Montana identity, Barsky said. She pointed to the times he wore a cowboy hat the wrong way and rigged a fly rod backwards, or the persistent question of his residency.

Zinkes wife lists a property in California as her primary residence, according to Politico, and Zinke, who claims Whitefish as home, has listed the Santa Barbara address in a consultant agreement filed with the SEC.

***

Barsky too points to Tester as an example of politics in the Treasure State.

For a long time, she said Montana has seen itself as a state where a person who was a high school band teacher can go to Congress, and in 2006, Tester, a farmer and music teacher, won his first U.S. Senate race against incumbent and Republican Sen. Conrad Burns.

A third-party candidate was on the ballot, but Tester didnt even get 50 percent of the vote.

Now, Barsky said money in politics is creating another level of elites, and the story Montanans have been telling themselves might be skirting closer to mythology.

It seems like were moving more into the nationalized politics that were seeing in other states, Barsky said. Montana had been a long-time holdout, and Im not sure its true anymore.

Word of the new report that said Zinke wasnt truthful might get swept aside with other national news about student loan forgiveness and, more locally, fires, Barsky said. And the election isnt until November.

Political analyst Lee Banville, also a UM faculty member, said the IGs report wont change the way most people vote, but he said it may affect one important element in a campaign enthusiasm for the candidate.

They may be inclined to vote his way, but are they fired up enough to go out and cast a ballot? Banville said.

He doesnt see signs of a lot of motivation: If theres one weak spot to Ryan Zinke, there seems to be some enthusiasm problems.

He said the close primary doesnt indicate Zinke is in danger of losing, but it is evidence that Republicans arent excited to rally around him as a candidate.

The race is tilted toward him pretty strongly, but there are weaknesses that are kind of persistent, Banville said. Hes kind of coasting right now, and that could be dangerous.

***

The Tranel campaign hasnt earned high marks from the organizations crunching numbers at the national level, and Republicans have celebrated the predictions Zinke eats his opponents lunch.

Monica Tranel has even fewer original ideas than chances of winning in November, posted the Montana Republican Party on Facebook earlier this summer in reaction to FiveThirtyEight. Montanans are fired up to elect Ryan Zinke!

Zinke has raised more money, nearly $3.8 million, according to the most recent information filed with the Federal Election Commission. Tranel has raised $1.3 million, but this month, she was on the third set of tires on her minivan in a state where facetime matters.

This month, Silas Teasdale started his first day of work as a field organizer in Missoula for the Tranel campaign. It was First Friday, when downtown art galleries stay open a little later and crowds are out and about, and after his shift, Teasdale went to a taco truck.

He struck up a conversation with three other diners at the next table, he said, three men who were clearly friends despite differing political views.

One of them told Teasdale he had voted for Trump, but he wasnt sure he liked Zinke, and he wanted to hear about Tranel.

Certainly, a voter who crosses party lines on a ballot isnt a surprise in the Treasure State. Nonetheless, with the campaign in full swing and a Trump voter curious about his underdog candidate, Teasdale took note.

Thats a positive shot to the system, Teasdale said.

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Zinke still pegged as winner, but analysts see 'vulnerabilities' Daily Montanan - Daily Montanan

August 26, 2022 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas, and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to more than 297,200 migrant apprehensions and more than 19,000 criminal arrests, with more than 16,400 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 335.5 million lethal doses during this border mission.

Texas has also bused over 7,400 migrants to our nation's capital since April and over 1,500 migrants to New York City since August 5. The busing mission is providing much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border communities.

Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden's open border policies.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:

WATCH: Governor Abbott Spotlights Migrant Busing To NYC, Dire Fentanyl Crisis

Governor Abbott joined Americas Newsroom on Fox News to spotlight New York City Mayor Eric Adams hypocrisy in complaining about bused migrants from Texas arriving in his sanctuary city. After the Governor invited Mayor Adams and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to the border to see the crisis firsthand, the mayors have not accepted the invitation and refuse to acknowledge the magnitude of the problem.

This is not a Texas problem; this is an American problem caused by the president, said Governor Abbott. We need more Americans to call on the president to uphold his oath of office and enforce the immigration laws of the United States.

GOVERNOR ABBOTT: Eric Adams Is All Talk When It Comes To Open Borders

In an op-ed for the New York Post this week, Governor Abbott called out Mayor Adams for boasting about his sanctuary city policies, while failing to live up to his campaign promises. Despite remaining silent when President Biden flew migrants to New York, the mayor is now condemning anyone who presses him to follow through on his ill-considered sanctuary city policies.

Mayor Adams likes to sloganeer that This is America and we need to start acting like it, Governor Abbott writes. We are a nation of laws. Its time to start enforcing them. Doing that would restore the humanity he is clamoring for.

Read Governor Abbotts op-ed.

WATCH: Governor Abbott Points Out Mayors Political Games Amid Border Crisis

Governor Abbott joined Fox Business Larry Kudlow to discuss disastrous policies of Democrat leaders like President Biden's open border policies and New York Mayor Adams' hypocritical sanctuary city and the chaos they are creating at our southern border.

The only reason we have all these people coming across the border is because of President Bidens open border policies, said Governor Abbott. It was just two years ago we had record low numbers of people coming across the border illegally under President Trump because of the four policies he put in place that President Biden eliminated when he became president.

Texas National Guard Seize 80 Lbs. Of Narcotics Near Residential Area Of Laredo

Texas National Guard soldiers seized 80 lbs. of narcotics near a residential area of Laredo with the assistance of U.S. Border Patrols Air and Marine Division. Border Patrol helicopter pilots identified multiple drug smugglers attempting to enter the country and radioed their location to ground forces.

The would-be smugglers left a bundle of narcotics before fleeing, and Border Patrol air assets used infrared lasers to communicate to Texas National Guard soldiers on the ground the exact location of the bundle to seize the drugs.

WATCH: Texas National Guard Soldier Describes Recent Narcotics Seizure

A Texas National Guard squad leader described a recent nighttime seizure of 80 lbs. of narcotics from a residential area of Laredo. Working alongside Border Patrol, soldiers tracked smugglers from Mexico attempting to move narcotics into the U.S.

This is why were here, said the squad leader.

WATCH: DPS, Federal Partners Find 26 Illegal Immigrants Inside Tanker Trailer

After stopping a commercial vehicle tanker trailer in Laredo, DPS troopers, agents from the DPS Criminal Investigation Division, and federal law enforcement officials discovered 26 illegal immigrants concealed inside the tanker.

The driver and passenger were arrested for human smuggling. In all, 14 males and 12 females from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador were referred to Border Patrol.

WATCH: DPS Troopers Catch Deported Felon From Mexico Living In U.S. Illegally

During a traffic stop last week, a DPS trooper discovered the driver had an outstanding warrant for indecency with a child for sexual contact. It was also discovered the driver was a deported felon from Mexico living in the U.S. illegally. He was charged with the outstanding warrant and failure to identify by a fugitive with intent to give false information.

PHOTO: DPS, Federal Law Enforcement Seize 15 Lbs. Of Cocaine

Agents from DPS Criminal Investigations Division, working alongside federal law enforcement, seized 15 lbs. of cocaine in Webb County. The drugs were concealed inside a bag. One person was arrested.

WATCH: Narcotics Smuggler Leads DPS Troopers On High-Speed Pursuit

DPS troopers were led on a high-speed pursuit by a narcotics smuggler last week in Cameron County. After attempting to evade multiple police agencies, the smuggler finally came to a complete stop and was apprehended. A total of 10 bundles of marijuana weighing approximately 240 lbs. were discovered inside the vehicle.

The smuggler was charged with evading arrest and possession of marijuana.

See the original post:
Operation Lone Star Accelerates Migrant Busing To Sanctuary City NYC - Office of the Texas Governor

And there could be worse to come much worse when the prices energy suppliers can charge are lifted again in January. More than eight million families face being plunged into fuel poverty, a status which kicks in when more than ten per cent of disposable income goes on paying for power.

Businesses are not covered by any kind of cap at all and face astronomic energy price hikes. Some will be able to pass the rise on to customers. Others, especially small businesses, will simply go to the wall.

This scale of price increase for an essential commodity dwarfs the impact of measures that we normally get worked up about at the time of a Budget, when Chancellors can run into big trouble for adding a couple of hundred pounds to tax bills.

So one might expect the Government to be ready with a new package of measures to cushion the blow. But news of the latest fuel bill carnage has come as Boris Johnson is serving out his final days as premier and before LizTruss, his likely successor, has taken office.

Both did their best on Friday to offer reassurance. Johnson rightly set the crisis in the context of Vladimir Putins aggression in Ukraine and his subsequent suspension of most of Russias gas supplies to Europe.

He pointed to measures already announced that will channel hundreds of pounds extra to families. Every domestic bill payer is going to get a 400 discount paid in instalments between October and next March. In addition, eight million most vulnerable households will get further support, including a payment of 650 for those on means-tested benefits, 300 for pensioner households and 150 to those on certain disability benefits.

This, said Johnson, amounted to a pipeline of cash that stretches out throughout the autumn. Yet all this support was put in place earlier in the year to help families cope with the last round of price increases. It is a testament to Johnsons ability as a communicator that he offered reassurance that extra support would be coming soon to help with the latest enormous rise. But there was no point in anyone asking him what that might be because it wont be down to him to decide.

On September 6, Ms Truss is set to take office facing the most formidable array of crises any new premier has encountered since Margaret Thatcher in 1979. Every indicator seems to be heading in the wrong direction from general inflation to ambulance response times, the migrant crisis to an upsurge in violent crime.

Yet all these things are dwarfed by the impact of soaring increases in wholesale energy prices.

So Ms Truss must prioritise energy policy from day one, not just in an emergency Budget in mid-September, but right away in a stand-alone package.

Perhaps some of the MPs who chose to dump Johnson may be experiencing second thoughts now that a national crisis to match the scale of the Covid pandemic is in sight. It hardly seems an ideal time for a novice to take the reins.

So Truss needs to get a big call right if her premiership is not to unravel very quickly. Her inner-circle is divided between those who want her to confine extra state support to pensioners and the poor and those who believe the energy crisis is so severe that middle-income families must be included as well.

Ideologically she is likely to be inclined to the former view, preferring radical measures to increase energy supply, along with tax cuts and rhetoric about more hard graft to point those on average incomes towards a method of cushioning the living standards blow by themselves.

But millions of hardworking families in the middle of the income scale will not take kindly to being left out in the cold. The lesson of recent years from the financial crisis to Covid is that governments are well-advised to respond early and at a scale which bolsters public confidence.

Ms Truss on Friday wrote that she would not just throw taxpayers money at problems as a quick fix. She is right to identify higher growth as the long-term way out of the living standards slump.

But to underfund a fiscal package in the meantime would amount to the ultimate false economy plunging the UK into a deep recession while leaving key groups of voters feeling abandoned. There might be no coming back from that.

Read more:
Truss must think and spend big to solve energy crisis, says PATRICK O'FLYNN - Express

There are many reasons to start a business. Perhaps you want to supplement your income from your job. Or maybe youre simply looking for a way out of working a nine-to-five job. Regardless of the motivation to start your business, there are numerous paths you can take. Nowadays, starting your own business is viable given the various opportunities to make money through online channels.

Due to the growth of technology, e-commerce, and the Internet of Things (IoT), making money online at little to no cost is possible. Most online businesses require minimal capital investment to start. That said, below are some of the business ideas you can start with little or no money;

1. Freelance Graphic Designer

In this age where theres a lot of content creation, graphic designing is a handy skill one can possess. Graphic designing is also necessary for website designing, video editing, and search engine optimization. Therefore, many companies are seeking experienced graphic designers at present.

As a freelancer, you have the flexibility to set your own work schedule and choose the projects you want. However, when starting, youll have to look for clients who need graphic design work actively. And once youve built a solid portfolio, itll become easier to link with new clients.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing programs have become increasingly common nowadays. It is especially true with content creators and influencers. These individuals frequently collaborate with businesses to advertise their products for a commission. The affiliate will get a commission every time they bring a new customer to the company.

So, the affiliate marketing business could be suitable for those with a decent social media following on any of the social media platforms. It will be easier to increase traffic on social media, blogs, or other platforms if you have an excellent social media presence.

Nonetheless, this will be a perfect business for some because its not time-consuming as opposed to other jobs. Instead, its something that could become more profitable over time. Only make sure that you look for good affiliate programs. Different affiliate programs have varying commission structures. Therefore, you must visit the various prospective company websites to learn more about their programs.

3. Consulting

One of the more common businesses to launch nowadays is a consulting firm. It is because you can establish a consultancy firm depending on your area of expertise. For example, you could start your own IT consultancy company online if you work in the IT industry. You can use your experience to create a brand.

But, even if you arent relying on experience, you could still take a course and learn how to be a consultant. For example, you could take a social media course and use that knowledge to start your social media consulting business.

However, finding an audience or clients could be tricky with consulting businesses. But with time, you should be able to get a decent clientele once you build a solid resume.

4. Tutoring and Training

You could make money through online tutoring or virtual training programs if youre passionate about something or know something inside out like yoga, cooking, or mathematics.

Tutoring can be fulfilling since youll get satisfaction from the fact that youre doing something you enjoy while helping other people. Its not just about making money but also helping your clients build a skill for their goals in life.

5. Digital Marketing

If you have experience in marketing, you could consider establishing your own digital marketing agency. Its a great business to start because its low cost, plus youll be able to leverage your experience when building that business. However, if you dont have a background in marketing, you could still take courses to learn about digital marketing. You only have to learn how to use the various digital marketing tools; These are the tools youll use to deliver value to your clients.

6. Resume Writer

This business idea may seem odd to some. But, writing a resume or cover letter isnt as easy as you think. Thats why people hire experts to write professional resumes for them. So you could make some decent money from this business idea. The great thing about this business is that its very economical. You may need to take a few courses to polish up your skills. Also, remember that templates are your best friend.

7. Translation Service

You can find some translation jobs if youre fluent in a second or third language. Remember, not everyone has English as their first language. So, when they visit different destinations, theyll need translators.

Translation service is a very low-cost business to start. However, youll have to market yourself to increase visibility, preferably through online channels. You can advertise yourself to firms, hospitals, and conference centers.

Conclusion

There are several businesses that you can start with little or no money. Technological advancement makes it possible to establish online businesses with low costs. Gone are the days when you needed significant capital to launch a business. Nowadays, people have options. The ones mentioned above are just a few of them.

View original post here:
7 Business Ideas You Can Start With Little To No Money - Baltic Times

Marketing maestro Michael Knowles says he is on a mission to steer North East companies through todays daunting digital landscape.

Until early this year he spent five years working as a Speaker and Digital Skills Trainer for the Google Digital Garage Project, which provides free digital skills training for individuals and small businesses throughout the UK. During lockdown, as part of the project, Michael regularly addressed audiences of more than 20,000 through Googles YouTube channel. He also helped train many of his fellow trainers as well.

For two years he was a senior lecturer in Digital Marketing at Newcastle University and he has just been nominated as Marketeer of the Year in The Prolific North Marketing Awards.

Now, through his Tyneside-based business ROAR Digital Marketing, 38-year-old Michael is determined to help the thousands of SME and micro-businesses in the region compete with their better resourced and more tech-savvy competitors.

For many people digital marketing is a mystery which they dont have the time or staff to master. As a result theyre left behind when customers search online for the very product or service they provide, he said.

Using his expert knowledge of digital marketing, as well as his understanding of the way Google works, Michael has developed an affordable product called the SEO Bomb to help those companies rankings rise. The SEO Bomb provides the kit of parts strategy, clusters of topics, key words and statistical research which content must be written around to hit the appropriate digital buttons.

We do all the time-consuming work which would take up a lot of a marketing departments time, even if the business has one, explained Michael, who grew up and lives in Whitley Bay.

The SEO Bomb helps users and Google understand that you are the authoritative voice in your sector because you are answering all the questions and challenges that people are searching for online, explained Michael. Its transformative because it will make your company visible in a very short time. It will sky-rocket your rankings.

More than 100 companies have already bought the SEO Bomb. They include small businesses, corporate in-house teams, as well as PR, social media and web agencies who use it on behalf of clients to write more informed content.

Ive worked with other SEO agencies in the past, and they tended to provide a list of topics and keywords. ROAR, however, provides a detailed plan of action and a breakdown of their methodology, said Sarah Donnelly, the marketing manager of Tritility, one of ROARS clients.

She added: Their SEO bomb suggests topics, sub-topics and guidelines on writing style and structure. This is far more than anything Ive received working with other agencies. We have begun to see a significant uplift in organic conversions, and their reporting is also fantastic.

In addition to the SEO Bomb, ROAR which stands for Real Opportunities Actual Results offers a subscription DIY SEO product and provides a full digital marketing service for around 40 major businesses. Its customers have included Northumbrian Water, Royal Mail PFS, North Tyneside Council, and Inflo a multi-national software company.

By Mark Adair Correspondent, Bdaily

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help

See original here:
Digital marketing expert sets out to upskill North East businesses - Bdaily