Former Republican Lt. Governor John Bohlinger is making this campaign season interesting. For those not acquainted with Bohlinger he was a Republican and Democrat Brian Schweitzer picked him as his running mate. Together they served two terms as Governor and Lt. Governor of Montana.

Schweitzer was enemy number one of the Montana Republicans for several years. Bohlinger was pretty much exiled from the Republican Party for siding with the enemy. The Montana GOP even refused to sell him tickets to attend the Montana GOP’s annual convention back in 2007.

In Republican terms, Bohlinger was a classic RINO – Republican In Name Only. The moderate-leaning Bohlinger, like many, probably grew tired of the Tea Party leaning Republican Party.

I like John Bohlinger.

U.S. Senator Max Baucus decided to retire. So Bohlinger decided to run for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat.

Republicans really don’t care too much about that, because they have their man, Congressman Steve Daines, who announced he was running for U.S. Senate. They believe he can beat anyone. This is the same cockiness they showed when “the man” before Daines, Congressman Denny Rehberg, challenged Senator Jon Tester. Rehberg lost.

All of a sudden, Max Baucus was nominated by the President to be U.S. Ambassador to China which means if he makes it through the senate, the current Governor of Montana, Democrat Steve Bullock, will get to appoint someone to fill the remainder of Baucus’ term.

It would also give that person a foot in the door to win the seat outright in November. The appointee would be called senator, would be the incumbent, and could raise a lot more money. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can give this person some “powerful” committee assignments so the appointee has some clout from day one.

Bullock’s Lt. Governor, John Walsh, is also running for the U.S. Senate. Bohlinger told KGVO radio, “If the governor should choose John Walsh as Baucus’ replacement, I would give serious thought to withdrawing from the race.”

He also said it would be like Walsh having a 40-yard head start. Bohlinger is 77 years old and Walsh is 53. Since Bohlinger served in the Marine Corps, that should make it a fair race.

I believe the whole reason Baucus was nominated for this ambassadorship was to enable the Democrats to give their candidate “a 40-yard head start” not only on any primary challenger, but on Republican Steve Daines.

It’s really all about the Democrats keeping the majority in the U.S. Senate.

With John Walsh’s campaign driving into the ditch a few times already, he may need more than a 40-yard head start to win in November.

With the filing deadline for office in Montana being March 10, and with Baucus not being an ambassador for at least several more weeks, the field is still wide open.

Will the Democrats in Washington and Montana stick with Walsh?

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