Big Sky Cairn

When the Montana Headlines post appeared in which we viewed the governor’s visit to the Hardin Prison as being perhaps yet more evidence of him feeling the heat in his re-election campaign against Roy Brown, it was greeted with derision on the sinister side of the Montana blogosphere. So be it — and now here comes more of the same, likely on both counts.

Because now we have the governor criticizing the likely Democratic nominee for President, Sen. Barack Obama (the more popular in Montana between Obama and Clinton, no less,) on a number of issues. The sinestras are of course, deeply disappointed in the governor — but don’t worry governor, it won’t last long.

The governor predicts that McCain will win Montana against either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama, because of one word — guns. In fact, the governor is in such a blistering, blustery hurry to show that he is pro-gun that he hands a loaded high-powered rifle to a reporter who was in the process of telling the governor that he he didn’t know the first thing about guns.

Indoors. Within city the city limits of Helena.

Let’s just say that it was a sure-fire way to make sure that the episode got into the national news. We’d like to think that the average Montana hunter wouldn’t be at all impressed by this stunt. But then, as the governor likes to point out, he believes that the average Montanan doesn’t hunt or ride horses — he just likes the idea of horses and hunting. So the governor believes all he needs to do is hold a gun while sitting on the back of a horse, shooting campaign commercials. It worked against Bob Brown, anyway. Against Roy Brown? Yet to be seen.

Getting back to the point at hand, though, if the governor were feeling confident about his re-election bid against Roy Brown, one would think that he would be talking up the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee, trying to deliver Montana for him — not throwing him under the bus.

No doubt! What the heck was the governor thinking? The ABC news account said “the governor had retrieved a (loaded) 30.06 Savage rifle….” Ironically, that’s the same exact hunting rifle I have. Keeping a loaded, high powered hunting rifle around your house is just crazy and I certainly hope none of my neighbors (or anyone living within a few miles of me) follow the Gov’s lead.

I though Schweitzer was the demz Secret Weapon? What was Schweitzer thinking? Maybe he was sending the country a message about Obama’s gun stance by handing the reporter a ‘loaded gun’ then bashing Barry’s health care and energy stance. I think he’s in Sarah’s court, check her donations out, we know where she stands.

Let’s cut to the essence of what is happening here.

1) Obama is going to win Montana and in doing so he is going to drive Montana Democrat Primary turnout through the roof. Last election 108,000 Montanans chose democratic primary ballots. 97,000 chose GOP ballots. This is the first time in at least 15 years you had this situation emerge. With no GOP presidental ticket tens of thousands of Montanans are going to vote in a democratic primary for the first time in their lives. And we all know what thay means: there will be a hangover effect going into the election. The Montana GOP will watching these numbers closely. And DR could be moving in to more stormy waters that he would prefer. This race will be his most difficult race as an incumbent ever.

2) The Governor will continue to point out his differences with the national party candidates. OK Fine. And after Obama wins the Montana Primary. Ever single MOntana Super Delegate will duly line-up and endorse Obama.

3) Before then, howerver, Montana voters will continue to leave the GOP primary fold in droves. Th GOP caucus could down as one the greatest strategic blunders of all. Especially if Ron Paul wins on June 3rd.

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