WaPo says Baucus is retiring

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/23/baucus-to-retire-rather-than-seek-re-election-in-2014/

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[Mr. Morden]

Part of me doesn't want Schweitzer to run if only because it may harm his odds of running 2016,which I really want him to do (he is one of my favorite pols).

May?  If he runs for Senate, it's a clear sign that he's not running for president in 2016.  He's not going to start running for president a month after being sworn in as Senator.

Being elected to the Senate would certainly put him on Hillary Clinton's running mate shortlist though.

[Mr. Morden]

I think this is a perfect opportunity for Schweitzer.  He can grab this seat and do several things.  1) Obviously keep it out of the GOP column, 2) Increases national exposure for a possible POTUS bid in 2016 or 2020.

It wouldn't be for a POTUS bid in 2016.  It'd be for a VPOTUS bid in the same year.  (Or if that doesn't work, POTUS in 2020.)

[Mr. Morden]

Brian Schweitzer just posted this article on his Facebook page with this choice quote:

"The two-term governor left office in January and would be the immediate front-runner for the Democratic nomination if he jumped into the Senate race."

All indications point towards him running.

That isn't necessarily determinative.  Schweitzer said back in February that his staff posts stuff on his FB page, not him, and that they tend to post stories promoting him, or that suggest he might run for Senate or President or whatever, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to get into the race:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=164982.msg3634362#msg3634362

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That said, the other leaks sure make it sound like he's considering it.

[Mr. Morden]

The fact that he's out of office and has "staff" managing stuff like that, though...

Up until yesterday, it was assumed that that's because he was running for president. 

[Mr. Morden]

Schweitzer seems to be sporting a beard now.



One more reason to support him.

Who would win in a debate between Bearded Richardson and Bearded Schweitzer?