This is the last stand on Earth."
~Ronald Reagan
please click the pic
Help support Free Republic!
Posted on 08/07/2014 12:00:21 PM PDT by cotton1706
Washington and Montana Democrats are mulling options for replacing Sen. John Walsh (D-Mont.) on the ballot as it looks increasingly likely that he'll exit the race.
Walsh, who canceled scheduled campaign events Tuesday and Wednesday, has made no public appearances since the weekend amidst increasing chatter that he plans to drop out of his race against Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in the wake of his plagiarism scandal. "He took a personal day yesterday," campaign spokeswoman Lauren Passalacqua told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Democrats in Montana and Washington, meanwhile, are increasingly expecting that Walsh will decide to withdraw from the race ahead of Monday's deadline. They are desperately casting about for a replacement who could ramp up quickly to challenge Daines or at least give them someone who won't hurt other Democrats on the ticket.
Montana Democratic Party spokesman Bryan Watt told the Montana Standard that Democrats "are looking at our process" of replacing Walsh should he decide to withdraw, though they haven't vetted individual candidates.
Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) has been mentioned by some Democrats, but it's unclear why he would choose to run now after taking a pass on the race earlier this year. Democrats think they might have a better shot at recruiting Montana native and former NARAL Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan (D), whom some have reached out to. Some Democrats have also mentioned little-known Montana state Sen. Dave Wanzenried (D) as a possible candidate.
Walsh has until next Monday to drop out, and Democrats have a bit more than a week after that to find a replacement.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
My guess, based on nothing other than my experience of Dem thinking, is that they'll replace Walsh with Keenan: it's a sop to the abortion-feminists, it gives her a chance to build her political bones (a la Abortion Barbie), and it prepares MT for the idea of Hillary! on the big ticket in 2016. Since they've lost the Senate seat anyway, might as well use the election to build on their ideological future.
I’ve never understood why Montana elects so many Dems. Other than Missoula, where are the libs?
I cannot understand how a state like Montana would support Obama either. Putting demos in the senate is supporting Obama.
Lots of coal mining, are they union?
Don’t know, but if they are that could be a reason.
Keenan already for federal statewide office before and lost (for the open House seat in 2000 against Denny Rehberg). Running a militant pro-abortionist didn’t play well in Montana. She’s also 62, not exactly a great age to embark on a federal career. Hillary won’t win there, either.
“Isn’t “plagiarism” considered a positive characteristic for a Dem candidate?
Don’t understand the fuss....”
It certainly didn’t hurt the careers of Joe Biden and Teddy Kennedy.
Thanks for the extra information; reminds me once again to keep my thoughts to myself when they lack the background to back them up :-)
~Ronald Reagan
please click the pic
Help support Free Republic!
Of course, I have to be careful. I made the same pronunciation of Heidi Heitkamp in neighboring North Dakota. While she had won statewide office (Attorney General, like Keenan won Schools Chief) in the ‘90s, she lost when trying to move up to Governor. She should’ve been a has-been opponent in the Senate race, but it turned out the 1-term Congressman, Rick Berg, running (like Daines, also a 1-termer) was weak, and she managed a narrow upset.
However, there is a bit of a difference, as the ND guy, Berg, had trouble throughout his campaign. Daines has consistently led by fairly decent margins, and has the momentum Berg never quite had. MT Dems will have a difficult time, even with a more popular replacement. I think even if Baucus had remained to run again, Daines would’ve beaten him.
” she managed a narrow upset.”
With Indian fraud being the margin of victory.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
