(CNN) On the eve of Montana's special House election, Republican nominee Greg Gianforte got into a physical altercation with a reporter from The Guardian newspaper -- an incredibly odd and potentially damaging last-minute swerve in a race that has, of late, attracted considerable national attention and money.

In audio posted by the Guardian, reporter Ben Jacobs can be heard asking Gianforte a question about health care -- in the wake of the Congressional Budget Office's analysis released Wednesday afternoon . Gianforte deflects the question. Jacobs asks again, insistently but, at least by my ears, politely. A scuffle can be heard and then a crash.

"Sick and tired of you guys," Gianforte can be heard saying. "Get the hell out of here." Jacobs responds: "You just body-slammed me and broke my glasses."

Gianforte spokesman Shane Scanlon offered his own version of events in a statement released just before 9 p.m. eastern.

"Tonight, as Greg was giving a separate interview in a private office, The Guardian's Ben Jacobs entered the office without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg's face, and began asking badgering questions," Scanlon said. "Jacobs was asked to leave. After asking Jacobs to lower the recorder, Jacobs declined. Greg then attempted to grab the phone that was pushed in his face. Jacobs grabbed Greg's wrist, and spun away from Greg, pushing them both to the ground. It's unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ."