One is a perennial political loser who has run at least 16 times prior for various offices, winning just once, and whom the GOP establishment is loath to support. The other is a politically aloof afterthought who filed for office at the last minute, is reluctant to campaign or raise any kind of money and seems indifferent to the Democratic Party’s support.
More than a week after 85-year-old Bob Kelleher became the Republican U.S. Senate nominee and John Driscoll, 61, pulled off a huge upset to win the Democratic U.S. House primary, Montana political observers are still reeling. Meanwhile, their respective parties have thrown in their proverbial towels, as the chances of either dethroning well-heeled incumbents Rep. Denny Rehberg and Sen. Max Baucus is nothing short of inconceivable.
In fact, the GOP is in the tricky position of having to coddle a candidate who is, on many issues, to the left of the Democratic incumbent and, to put it lightly, has ideas at odds with the mainstream. For example, Kelleher wants to replace the current three branches of government with a parliamentary system (which would require virtually re-writing the U.S. Constitution. Good luck with that.) He also supports massively expanding social services to offer universal health care and eliminate poverty. As evidence of his wide-ranging views, previously Kelleher has run as both a Democrat and Green Party candidate.
In interviews last week, Montana Republican Party Chairman Erik Iverson said Kelleher’s views don’t reflect the GOP’s, but the nominee would still be allowed a voice at the party convention in Missoula this month. He added, “We don’t need to shun him. He is our nominee.” It was a cordial response, more or less an olive branch that Kelleher quickly lit on fire.
“The party has actually no legal significance,” Kelleher told The Associated Press. “The party platforms are unenforceable. It’s a lie to voters to give them an impression that any party stands for anything.”
And the GOP brass collectively cringed while wishing they had rallied around former state House Majority Leader Mike Lange, despite the fact that he may be most famous for his profanity-laced tirade aimed at the governor that led to his eventual ouster. Lange, who came in second by 10,000 votes behind Kelleher, may have little self-control over his oratory, but next to Kelleher he sounds like Ronald Reagan.
A spokesman for Baucus announced last week the incumbent would not be debating Kelleher to avoid an event likely to turn into “a circus.”
In 2002, when running for Baucus’ seat as a Green Party candidate, a correspondent with Comedy Central’s “Daily Show” asked Kelleher to explain why he was running for Senate. “I represent Shirley,” Kelleher responded. “And Montana is full of Shirleys.”
While the weirdness factor in the Kelleher-Baucus contest has stolen the spotlight, Driscoll’s victory is remarkable in its own right. Driscoll, a former state lawmaker and public service commissioner, can tout heavier credentials than Kelleher. He is, after all, a legitimate former politician. The problem is it appears that he wants to keep it that way. Driscoll didn’t raise or spend any money campaigning in the primary and plans to adhere to the same philosophy in the general. While admirable in an oddly uncompetitive way, it means he stands no chance of unseating Rehberg.
Democratic insiders were supporting Driscoll’s opponent, Helena lawyer Jim Hunt, in the primary. He had campaigned vigorously across the state, raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars and had already begun criticizing the incumbent. Instead the Dems got Driscoll, who has promised not to denounce Rehberg and only to campaign when it fits into his family’s summer travel plans.
The Democratic Party said it is more than willing to play the role of bully with the four-term congressman, but I doubt it expects to pose any sort of challenge to the well-funded incumbent. And, for his part, Iverson has already lowered expectations by saying the Kelleher-Baucus race is not a high priority for Republicans.
In contrast, Kelleher told Lee Newspapers of his primary win, “I see the hand of the Almighty in this.”