13 January 2017

Is Zeno Baucus the Dem Establishment’s stop Quist candidate?

At KXLH, Mike Dennison, in a fine report on Rob Quist, notes that assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus, Max’s son, may be considering a run for the U.S. House seat that Ryan Zinke will vacate when confirmed as Secretary of the Interior. “Zeno Baucus is considering the race, but has made no decision, sources told MTN News.”

This is a trial balloon. Zeno, or what’s left of Max Baucus’ political organization, wants to judge how much appeal Zeno would have with party insiders who are looking for an alternative to Quist, the endorsee of Brian Schweitzer and thus a threat to the Democratic establishment’s record of losing every Congressional election in Montana since Pat Williams retired.

It’s mighty late in the game to be announcing “Hey, I might like to play; thinking about it; what do you think?” Quist blasted out of the chute at full gallup, but Zeno’s still squatting on the corral fence, dithering. That’s not how elections are won.