XPost: alt.politics.bush, alt.politics.clinton, alt.politics.libertarian   
   XPost: mn.politics   
   From: jbernstein@crabbits.com   
      
   HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Democrats will be hard-pressed in quickly   
   finding a strong candidate for Montana's U.S. Senate election   
   after incumbent John Walsh's abrupt withdrawal from the campaign   
   in a plagiarism controversy.   
      
   Walsh's decision to quit the campaign Thursday gave an instant   
   shot in the arm to Republicans nationally. A net gain of six   
   seats in the Senate would give the GOP a majority in both   
   chambers of Congress. And Montana Republicans boast a formidable   
   candidate in freshman U.S. Rep. Steve Daines, who has a   
   significant fundraising edge and carries wide name recognition   
   as the state's sole House member.   
      
   As attention shifted from Walsh's troubles to his replacement, a   
   potential white knight for the Democrats, former Gov. Brian   
   Schweitzer, said he's not interested in the job.   
      
   No one else in the state party has comparable political star   
   power.   
      
   That means whoever is selected by Montana Democrats at an   
   upcoming nominating convention will have to raise lots of money,   
   get his or her name out and excite voters so they turn out at   
   the polls — all in less than three months.   
      
   "I just don't think, given where we are, that a Democrat is   
   going to have much of a chance," said David Parker, a political   
   analyst at Montana State University. "I won't say no chance, but   
   it's going to be extremely slim."   
      
   It's a sharp turnaround from February, when Walsh was appointed   
   by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock to replace six-term Democratic   
   Sen. Max Baucus. After 35 years, Baucus stepped down to accept   
   President Barack Obama's appointment to become U.S. ambassador   
   to China.   
      
   Walsh's appointment gave the former lieutenant governor and   
   National Guard commander the powers of incumbency heading into a   
   long election season. Republicans decried his appointment as an   
   unfair backroom deal.   
      
   That all changed last month, when The New York Times revealed   
   the extensive use of unattributed material in a 2007 paper from   
   Walsh about the spread of democracy in the Middle East that he   
   submitted to earn a master's degree from the U.S. Army War   
   College.   
      
   With an Army War College investigation set to begin Aug. 15,   
   Walsh said Thursday that the controversy surrounding his   
   research paper had become a "distraction" his campaign could no   
   longer bear.   
      
   He sent a statement to supporters that he was leaving the race   
   but said he will keep the seat until his term ends in January.   
   His decision was first reported by Lee Newspapers of Montana.   
      
   Daines, a former technology company executive from Bozeman, said   
   he respected Walsh's decision and wouldn't comment on the   
   plagiarism allegations.   
      
   Democratic leaders from county party committees, along with   
   federal and statewide elected officials and the party's   
   executive board, will convene before Aug. 20 to choose a   
   candidate.   
      
   Former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, who switched parties to run   
   against Walsh in the June primary, said Thursday he'd consider   
   running if chosen. But in a nod to the odds, Bohlinger set some   
   conditions.   
      
   "I would stand ready to pick up the mantle with the provision of   
   money and an army of volunteers," he told The Associated Press.   
      
   Sen. Dave Wanzenried, D-Missoula, said he was "absolutely   
   interested" and planned to make his case in the coming days. A   
   former state labor commissioner, he's served 18 years in the   
   Legislature. Term limits will end that run in January.   
      
   "It's one of those things that comes along once in a while and   
   you say, 'I'm going to do this,' " Wanzenried said.   
      
   Bullock, state Auditor Monica Lindeen and Superintendent of   
   Public Instruction Denise Juneau all turned down the idea.   
      
   Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Andrea Marcoccio   
   said Democrats are used to tough races in a state Obama lost in   
   2012 by nearly 14 percentage points, though voters re-elected   
   Democratic Sen. Jon Tester and Bullock that year.   
      
   "We plan to talk face to face with Montanans about what's at   
   stake," Marcoccio said.   
      
           
      
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