Burns to Get Some Company in Montana Montana, Senators

CQ Today's Midday Update (free email service) passes on news out of Montana that should have Senator Conrad Burns (R) a little bit worried:

The Great Falls Tribune reports that Montana state Senate President Jon Tester will be in Washington next week “to talk to Democratic Party officials and fund-raisers about challenging” Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., next year. Tester, an organic grain farmer, “is barred by term limits from running next year for re-election to the state Senate.” While he is in Washington, “he’ll talk to officials with the” DNC and DSCC. Tester said “he’s been pressured by some Democrats to run next year against” GOP Rep. Denny Rehberg , “but that if he runs for anything, it would be the U.S. Senate.” [original Tribune article here]

Although the Beltway pundits like to talk about Chafee, Santorum and Nelson (of Nebraska) as the most endangered incumbents in 2006, these talking heads once again forget to look west. Burns was nearly knocked off in 2000, a year when he was directly below George W. Bush on the ballot. Without the President's coattails this time around, Burns -- who could face ethical investigations for Abramoff ties -- will be hard pressed to eke out a victory. With a strong Democratic candidate like Tester, who engineered the Democrats' takeover of the state Senate in the fall, Burns might just find himself holding a one-way ticket to K Street.

Jonathan Singer | May 6, 2005 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Burns to Get Some Company in Montana Montana, Senators

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