Baucus to retire rather than seek re-election in 2014, strategists say

[Larkspur]

17. Schweitzer's views are similar to Howard Deans in 2003-4

Howard didn't support gun control in VT because of it's low gun homicide rate, but he did understand that NYC and other areas plagued by gun violence would benefit from it.

I don't know how the former governor of MT would vote on the background check bill, but in December he indicated he would not support bans on assault weapons. If he runs for senate, he'll have to cater to the gun nut culture, but I think he could be persuaded to support background checks by showing him that 85% of NRA members support it. If it can be framed as a anti-crime act as opposed to a gun control one, then I think he would vote for it and skillfully use it to spear his Rethugican opponent. I assume Schweitzer would position himself similar to what Sen. Heitkamp did on gun control issues.

However, Schweitzer supports a single payer type of medical system and he support's women's reproductive rights and LGBT rights. And he HATES the Citizens United ruling. MT has a long history of anti-corporation feelings as big corps used to buy their politicians. It took a citizen's referendum 100 years to seize power from them, but that referendum was ruled unconstitutional by the Roberts' Court. Schweitzer was not pleased by that ruling. Brian Schweitzer is progressive on many issues, except guns and the Keystone pipeline. Although on the later topic, he also supports alternative energy methods.

He seems to base his decisions on energy based upon what we need today and how best to convert to the new energy methods. Right now, he supports freeing us from foreign oil even if that means using more coal. That's his quandary right now -- liberation from foreign oil vs global climate change.

So I would not call Brian Schweitzer conservative, like Joe Manchin is. Brian doesn't seem to be a Blue Dog Dem. He's more pragmatic and closer to Howard Dean of 2003-4 than to Joe Manchin of today.

And Schweitzer was a very popular governor and he still seems to retain his popularity with MT voters, so if he decides to run for the US Senate, he has a real shot to win in and may even be the favorite to win it. He did first run for the US Senate in 2000 and lost to the Republican by 4% when he had little to no name recognition. Today, he's in much better shape to win the US Senate seat, should he decide to run for it.