A female campaign tracker tasked with following a Democratic candidate running to be Montana's attorney general was offered a "free vibrator" by a local male elected official who also owns a sex shop, according to video obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The tracker was in Montana for America Rising, a conservative group that deploys trackers to cover candidates across the country. She was covering an event attended by Democratic attorney general candidate Kimberly Dudik when she was approached by local Democratic committee member Billy McWilliams, who first hassled her for doing her job and then called her "mysterious" and offered her a "free vibrator" if she visited his store.
"Oh, I remember you, you're the tracker," McWilliams said. "Do you really think it's going to work? What is she going to say? Are you really tracking an AG race in a Democratic primary? Isn't that crazy?"
With his questions unanswered, McWilliams decided to tell the tracker about his Bozeman sex shop, Erotique.
"You're mysterious," he said. "I own Erotique the sex store, and if you stop by I'll give you a free vibrator."
As McWilliams left the event, he said he would see her "on the trail" and blew her a kiss.
Reached by the Free Beacon, McWilliams said he was only "teasing" the tracker, but also apologized for his actions.
"I thought I was teasing," McWilliams said in an email. "I apologize to the camerawoman, it was inappropriate. I'll consider my comments in the future, and won't say things that may be misconstrued."
His email also included a quote from Mahatma Gandhi stating, "As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him."
McWilliams also said he has no affiliation with Dudik.
"I have no relationship at all with Kimberly Dudik, just saw her at the parade," he added. "Please don't make this a reflection on Ms. Dudik. That was my comment, and mine alone."
Dudik can be seen in the video standing alongside McWilliams, but also said he has no involvement with her campaign.
"Billy McWilliams is not involved with my campaign in any capacity," Dudik said.
Sarah Dolan, America Rising's executive director, said the group's trackers "never deserve to be the subject of harassment."
"Trackers are trained to act professionally on the campaign trail and Democratic politicians and activists should do the same," Dolan said. "These individuals are just doing their job and never deserve to be the subject of harassment."
McWilliams said he plans to apologize to the tracker should he see her again, and also expressed admiration for the trade.
"I've joked with numerous trackers in my time, have teased them," McWilliams said. "And for every one, including this camerawoman, have mentioned that I admire they're [sic] sense of duty, and while we disagree on most policies, I know they are doing this to make our state and nation better."
"For certain, we have treat each other better," he said. "All of us."
The Montana Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment on the video.