U.S. Senator Max Baucus is hosting his 6th Montana Jobs Summit September 16/17 in Butte, Montana.

You have to hand it to Max Baucus, he’s good at campaigning, and he’s never lost an election. History will remember Baucus as the author of Obamacare, but in the remaining months of his last term, Baucus says he will “focus on Montana priorities” probably hoping that he can change the “author of Obamacare” perception people have of him just a little.

I consider Baucus “Brian Schweitzer lite.” While Schweitzer would brand bills from the Montana Legislature on the capitol steps, Baucus would take walks across Montana. While Schweitzer would bus seniors to Canada for cheaper drugs, Baucus would hold a work day where he would work at a local business. Schweitzer was much more fun to watch, and it’s too bad he opted out of running for the U.S. Senate.

Several years ago, Baucus discovered a gold mine in getting much-needed publicity when he started hosting a Montana Jobs Summit. Who would not like to see “good-paying jobs” come to the state? “Good-paying jobs” became his catch phrase.

And if hosting a jobs summit helps you get reelected, that’s even better.  

As Baucus would invite people, he would send out press release after press release getting publicity for himself – but also to show people his “powerful” position on the Senate Finance Committee enabled him to invite corporate leaders from around the country to Montana for a few hours to give a speech.

He would say upfront, there would be “no politics” at the event, which means that he did not want anyone interfering with his politics.

Over the years, the press ate it up so much so that we started seeing the word “Powerful” with Senate Finance Committee and “good-paying jobs” sprinkled in many articles that mentioned Baucus. Baucus’ communications team over the years set the standard for press manipulation – and that’s a compliment (to his communications team, and not to the press). That’s part of the reason he never lost an election.

The Montana Jobs Summit is also a must-attend event for the hundreds of economic development people across the state – because they might need Baucus and his staffers to help them with their plans. It’s an event at which you must be seen if you are from the economic development world in Montana. Besides, there’s a “free lunch.”

Now Baucus is preparing to ride off into the sunset, as he will retire in January 2015. He says, “We’re pulling out all the stops to make this our biggest summit ever. The goal? Building the connections necessary to create good paying jobs here in Montana.”

At least we know this jobs summit won’t help Baucus with his reelection.

Hey…maybe it is all about good paying jobs?

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