John Morrison's big problem in MT Sen Race (affair, conflict of interest)

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http://houseoflabor.tpmcafe.com/node/28739

"It seems to have been one of those stories that percolated in political circles for so long that it had to be written eventually," Ed Kemmick explained, "but is the kind of story that is hard to summarize in a sentence or two." John Morrison's scandal involved an extramarital affair, conflicts of interest, securities fraud and more. Mike Dennison and Charles S. Johnson teamed up for the 2000 word story that Lee Newspapers ran in the Billings Gazette, the Missoulian, the Helena Independent Record and Butte's Montana Standard. Day 2 featured a Matt Gouras piece for the AP and Gwen Florio wrote it up for the Great Falls Tribune.

Demographically, the geography of the story meant that many had already heard rumors. Kalispell is small enough for a common knowledge but big enough so that the vast majority of Montanans know people from Kalispell. On the other hand, this is a Helana scandal where the nature of Montana's citizen legislature means that state legislators and lobbyists are living in their homes -- with phones and faxes, the internet and emails -- for most of the year. Now that it is in the papers, Suzanne Harding is a subject people can discuss with people who know her, or know people who know her.

The papers saved the follow-ups for Sunday, in the Trib Florio looks at how the evening news images of Morrison's wife were awkward to uncomfortable for some voters to see. Also Sunday, Lee ran a Johnson story headlined: Horse Sense: News of affair, investigation hurts Morrison, observers say

. . .

At this point, it certainly looks like Montana's 2006 senate race will follow the contrast and shape up between Burns and Tester. As the out-of-state money finally heads to Tester, he'll have the opportunity to introduce himself with momentum. Did the primary end over the weekend?

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1. One of the stories, this one from the Great Falls Tribune

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/NEWS01/604070316/1002

Morrison: Woman did not influence decision
By Gwen Florio Tribune Capitol Bureau

HELENA — State Auditor John Morrison vowed Thursday to stay in the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate, despite a published report that he had an extramarital affair with a woman whose fiancé was later investigated by Morrison's office.

With his wife, Catherine, in attendance, Morrison even managed to joke about the report during a lunchtime speech to the Bar Association.

"The rain just washed away my newspaper this morning, so I didn't see it. Is there anything going on?" he asked, garnering a few chuckles.

Lee Newspapers reported that Suzanne Harding said she had a two-month affair with Morrison in 1998, and that she called him twice when the Auditor's Office was investigating her then-fiancé, David Tacke, a few years later.

Morrison denied that any "acquaintance" influenced the case and said he asked an outside attorney to supervise the case.

. . . more

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2. A prior thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2213121&mesg_id=2213121

Tester will need a ton of cash to fight off whoever the Republican nominee will be:

http://www.jontester.us

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3. Kick for John Tester.

http://www.jontester.us

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4. 'Would love to have your updates periodically on DU on this race,

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Really appreciate seeing this (sorry I'm late to get to it).

I would NOT miss Mr. Burns at all. A very questionable excuse for a U.S. Senator.