Montana 2008 Senate Poll

[Tender Branson]

Mason Dixon conducted a poll in Montana lately and an interesting fact was that they asked people how they would vote in a hypothetical 2008 Senate race between Incumbent Max Baucus (D) and Rep. Denny Rehberg (R).

The results are:

Baucus-D: 48%
Rehberg-R: 44%
Undecided: 8%

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/12/25/ap-state-mt/d8m7fc480.txt

[TomC]

I am loving Montana these days.

[Adlai Stevenson]

Surprisingly close.  However, I am confident of two things:

1. Rehberg isn't going to run.
2. Even if he did, Baucus would beat him. 

[nini2287]

Sounds about right.  A Rehberg-Baucus race would probably come down to the national mood at the time.

[sethm0]

 Baucus would have to be the favorite, but I don't see Rehberg running. He'll just sit and wait for a Senate seat or the Governor's chair to open up and save himself the effort of running against an incumbent.

[Moooooo]

This battle was already fought in 1996 and Rehberg lost.  Rehberg isn't going to give up a safe house seat for a long shot Senate run vs. a guy that has already defeated him.

[TheresNoMoney]

I sure as hell hope Rehberg doesn't run.

[Keystone Phil]

I am loving Montana these days.

Because of a closer than expected race?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

It says in the article that Baucus has a 68% approval rating, with that type of number, I don't see him losing.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

It says in the article that Baucus has a 68% approval rating, with that type of number, I don't see him losing.

Lincoln Chafee had a 63% approval rating too.....

[Alcon]

It says in the article that Baucus has a 68% approval rating, with that type of number, I don't see him losing.

Lincoln Chafee had a 63% approval rating too.....

When Bush's approval rating in Montana gets up to 75%, we'll talk.  It's also worth considering that people are more likely to vote against an incumbent because they dislike the party/president than to vote for them because they like it/him.

[MAS117]

Rehberg is not running for the Senate. Hes not going to give up his seat just to run for the Senate.

I was once in his office in DC, Rayburn building I think. The mans got animal heads on his wall. A true Montanan.

[Deano963]

It says in the article that Baucus has a 68% approval rating, with that type of number, I don't see him losing.

Lincoln Chafee had a 63% approval rating too.....

And Lincoln Chaffee is also a republican......Baucus is not..........

[Tender Branson]

The mans got animal heads on his wall. A true Montanan.

You mean a trophy room like this ?



Well, it´s not just common in Montana for hunters to put trophies of their shot animals into their house, but also in Austria.

I also know some people (hunters) who have some of them in their houses. My sister´s boyfriend is a hunter too and he will soon shoot a deer and put his antler in their new built house for decoration ...

[Eraserhead]

I'm shocked its that close. I doubt Rehberg runs though.

[Virginian87]

Last time I checked, Max Baucus was one of the most popular politicians in the state of Montana.  I doubt he would lose.

[Rococo4]

He should have run against Burns in the primary and then won the general and saved the seat for Republicans.

[Adlai Stevenson]

He should have run against Burns in the primary and then won the general and saved the seat for Republicans.

Perhaps 2006 will prove to be his lost opportunity.

[Deano963]

He should have run against Burns in the primary and then won the general and saved the seat for Republicans.

The problem with that is that he would not have beaten Burns in the republican primary.

[Verily]

He should have run against Burns in the primary and then won the general and saved the seat for Republicans.

The problem with that is that he would not have beaten Burns in the republican primary.

I agree; I think the people angry with Burns in Montana were not the sort who would have voted in the Republican primary. The number of party switchers was fairly low for an incumbent defeated in a wildly favorable state. It was simply that independents broke hard for Tester.