Democrats say political power in state 'within arm's length'

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Almost every speech made here Friday at the kickoff of the 2004 Montana Democratic Party Convention had a common theme: After more than a decade of Republican near-domination of Montana politics, the Democrats are poised to snatch back power. "It's within arm's length," Rep. Monica Lindeen, a House Democratic leader from Huntley, told a group of party faithful. "Not even arm's length. It's within a finger's grasp." A Democrat has not occupied the governor's house since Ted Schwinden left in January 1989. Democrats have been in the minority in both houses of the Legislature since 1995.

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But today, Democrats need only to pick up four more seats in the House of Representatives and five in the state Senate to regain the majority. The party is also pinning its hopes on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer, who according to State Auditor John Morrison, another Democrat, performs far better in polls than his Republican challenger, Secretary of State Bob Brown.

"I think the stars are aligned for the Democrats to win at every level in Montana this year," Morrison said. The mood seems to be infectious. Fund-raising for Democratic legislative candidates so far is "unprecedented," said Ted Dick, leader of the Democrats' legislative campaign effort.

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Morrison said Montanans do not instinctively vote Republican, as the Democratic attorney general, state school superintendent and his own office shows. Instead, they vote for the person. "Montana is the most independent state politically in America," he said. He thinks the Democrats will have several things on their side this year. First, Morrison said, is the swinging pendulum of politics. Before Democrats lost the governor's mansion in the 1988 election, they held it for 20 years. "Historically, it's time for the pendulum to swing back," he said. Secondly, Republicans have had "every opportunity" to do what they wanted for Montana. Dissatisfied with where the state is after years of Republican leadership, voters are ready to give the Democrats a crack.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/06/14/news/mtregional/znews04.txt

[yellowdog]

1. The Dems should make it.

The Repukes have made such a mess of the economy and everything else in Big Sky I don't see how they can recover. If Montanans don't return the Dems to power they aren't as smart as I think they are.

[Frangible]

2. Montana is VERY conservative

The best thing I can hope for is more democrats to get elected, but I don't think a majority will happen.

Personally, I'll be voting (D) for every thing I can. Except of course, Conrad Burns. Every MT democrat I know votes for Conrad Burns. Why? The man's an idiot but he brings a sick amount of pork home to Montana. Voting him out would cost us a lotta benjamins.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Conrad Burns is an embarassment.

A dishonest, racist, and mean-spirited man.

If I knew anyone either stupid or evil enough to vote for him, I wouldn't hesitate to tell them what I thought of that choice to their face.

[havocmom]

4. Meet me. I'm a Dem who dispises Burns

and not real crazy about Max lately either. Hope we can get a fesh Dem face when Max's term is up. Need a shot of enthusiam and at least one Senator who will talk issues.