Michael Lange has announced that he is running for U.S. Senate, the seat currently held by Max Baucus.

It was widely speculated and now it’s a fact. Will others enter the race for the GOP? I think so. Will someone challenge Baucus in his primary? Maybe as there are some who feel Max is not liberal enough.

Not many people give Lange much of a chance to win it, even Lange feels that way as he was quoted in the Billings Gazette saying, “this is not a simple task” in taking on Baucus. Saying it is not a simple task is not exactly a glowing start, although that is correct because Baucus’ handlers are very good. He won’t make too many major mistakes between now and November 2008.

Stranger things have happened in Montana politics when a no-name person steps up to run against a widely know office holder. Nobody, except his supporters, gave Conrad Burns much of a chance of beating Melcher and nobody, but his supporters, gave Jon Tester much of a chance in beating Burns. We all know how those races turned out, so Baucus’ people are correct when they say they take any challenge seriously. You don’t get a do-over.

November 2008 is a ways off. Between now and then there could be ethical problems. There could be ties to lobbyists. There could be concerns about health. The National Democrats may not pay much attention to the race and not provide funding. Then the challenger starts gaining traction on an issue and you end up fighting for your life because some no-name bumpkin is gaining on you in the polls.

Maybe Lange feels like Lloyd Christmas from the classic movie, Dumb and Dumber, when he asks Mary Swanson what the chances are of them going out together:
Lloyd: Hit me with it! I’ve come a long way to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I’d say more like one out of a million. [pause]
Lloyd: So you’re telling me there’s a chance.

I think I can also sum it up by what a friend (union member) told me today about Lange: “Nobody, not the unions or even most of the Republicans will vote for him, so why is he wasting his time?”

Yep, that about sums up my thoughts…but it is a free country.