After months of imagining himself as a U.S. Senator, former Montana Governor Marc Racicot announced yesterday that he would not run for the senate seat being vacated by Max Baucus. That’s no surprise — the 66-year-old Washington, D.C., lawyer now making big bucks was indulging himself by basking one more time in a rapidly dimming limelight — but it does clear the way for Steve Daines to announce for the Senate. Or, perhaps it forces Daines to make a decision, as he no longer can say he’s deferring a decision out of courtesy to Racicot.
Inside Montana’s Democratic tent, potential senate candidates, if there are any besides Dirk Adams, are dithering and dawdling, setting new records for being irresolute. Meanwhile, Adams is looking more and more like a Wall Street Democrat in the mold of Jon Corzine. If Adams becomes senator, his vote will cancel out Tester’s on banking issues.