With Baucus in the race, the MT Senate is lean Dem. With Baucus retiring and Schweitzer running, the MT Senate is Safe Dem. The only Republican to give Schweitzer a race would be Gov. Marc Raciot. But, he was more interested in becoming US Attorney General, but Bush passed over him for Ashcroft. Raciot did an okay job as RNC Chair in 2002-2003. This Senate seat was his for the taking in 2002. But he wanted to make money for his family.
Racicot is way old news, anyhow. He hasn’t run a race in what will be 18 years come 2014 (think Tommy Thompson in WI, except his was just 14). He was never well regarded by Conservatives, as I believe he is strongly pro-abort.
Still, Schweitzer is a nasty piece of work. He openly bragged about stealing the ‘06 Senate race for Tester. We need an unapologetic Conservative to go after him hammer and tong. Also, reminding the voters that the people have never elected a Republican to that Senate seat (not since the legislature elected them, and that was last in 1907). It’s time for a change.
Woah I wouldn’t call it “Safe Dem” but Baucus would certainly have been easier. I expected we would face Schweitzer cause I think he’d have beaten Baucus. But now they have the benefit of party unity.
I agree with DJ that Raciot is washed up. He hasn’t even been in the news for years. AND he’s a RINO.
A PPP poll from February shows a hypothetical matchup between Schweitzer and new Congressman Steve Daines were Schweitzer leads by only 3, in the same poll he leads AG Tim Fox by 6 and trails Raciot by 1 .
We can win this, with a candidate. Daines and Fox are the only Republicans currently in statewide office (thanks to the damn third parties allowing rat plurality wins).
A couple state legislators are the only Republicans currently in the race.