Schweitzer (D-MT) able to grab spotlight | Billings Gazette

[Ediacara]

Schweitzer able to grab spotlight

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON
Gazette State Bureau

HELENA - Five years ago, as an obscure Montana Democrat named Brian Schweitzer geared up to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, he came up with an idea that catapulted him into the state and national spotlight.

Schweitzer was the first candidate nationally to take busloads of senior citizens across the Canadian border where they could buy their prescription drugs much cheaper.

The first bus trip in the fall of 1999 attracted a number of Montana senior citizens and a couple of Montana statehouse reporters. Later trips drew more seniors, joined by reporters from the New York Times and USA Today. By the time Schweitzer and some seniors flew to Arizona and took some vanloads across the border into Mexico, CBS and NBC sent along camera crews.

Schweitzer, 48, whose campaign symbol is the light bulb to symbolize creative ideas, says he came up with the plan for the border runs the same way he gets all of his ideas.

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[stevedeshazer]

1. Great article

I didn't know Schweitzer came that close to knocking off Conrad Burns. Bet he'll be a much better Montana governor than the last two.

[Ediacara]

2. LOL

I think a ham sandwich would be a much better Montana governor than the last one at least. Racicot, although not great, wasn't the disaster that Martz has been.

In 2000, the senate seat, the house and the governor all came within 5% of going dem. Polls this year show Schweitzer with a huge lead over all the GOP candidates, hopefully we'll keep this momentum into the general.