According to
http://www.politics1.com/ '...In the wake of GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea last week, speculation is running rampant inside the beltway that US Senator Conrad Burns (R) will quit his re-election contest. Roll Call speculated Congressman Denny Rehberg -- a former Lieutenant Governor -- will be the GOP's replacement candidate. Another name I'd throw into the mix would be former Governor and former Republican National Chairman Marc Racicot. The RNC last month sent Racicot on a tour of the state to drum up support for President Bush's programs. If Rehberg runs, the move would also open Montana's lone US House seat. That move could prompt one of the leading Dems currently in the US Senate race to switch into the open House seat contest. In a state where the Dems captured the governorship, the State House and State Senate, and won 3 of the other 4 statewide offices in 2004 -- despite Bush carrying the state by a wide margin -- these could all become competitive open seat contests.'
Does anyone think Burns might retire? I read that Burns might have been expected not to run again this year and Rehberg was expected to replace him, but that Burns seemed solidy behind another run and that Rehberg got a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, usually a sign of a long career in Congress. So would Rehberg be a better candidate for the GOP? Also, what of Marc Racicot?
I imagine the open seat would attract either Morrison or Tester as well. Your thoughts?
