In an attempt to hold the Senate, Montana Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on Friday appointed Democrat John Walsh to serve out the remainder of Sen. Max Baucus’ term. Perhaps seeing the handwriting on the wall, one of the prominent authors of ObamaCare Sen. Max Baucus, announced he would retire last year.
Brian Schweitzer passing on the Montana Senate race put the Senate seat Baucus occupied for more than three decades firmly in play. Lt. Gov. John Walsh has been the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in this year’s primary, but has received wide criticism for being cited in a 2010 inspector general’s report for using his guard position for personal gain.
“Harry Reid and President Obama have pulled all the strings they can to clear the way for their hand-picked, scandal-plagued choice, John Walsh,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Press Secretary Brook Hougesen.
The race is rated “Likely Republican” on the People’s Pundit Daily’s 2014 Senate Map Predictions model, with Montana moving farther to the right over the last 4 years than many of the other states in which Senate seats currently held by Democrats, but in which Mitt Romney easily won in 2012.
Walsh and the Democratic Party are hoping that the appointment will give the party an advantage, the type that comes from incumbency. But we would liken the race and the tactic to one similarly used in New Jersey by Chris Christie. However, in that race the candidate himself did not seek reelection, nevertheless, because he likely could not win.
Between the scandal and the overall dynamics of the race, we will keep this ratings firmly where it was. View the Montana Senate race expanded analysis for the 2014 Senate Map.
