HELENA – U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg topped the list of candidates formally filing Thursday to appear on the 2012 ballot, saying Republicans are confident that they can win a number of key races — including his big challenge to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.
Both parties expressed a great deal of confidence as dozens of candidates for state legislative seats filed for office on the first day they are allowed to do so.
Democrats, who suffered a big blow in 2010 when the GOP rode a tea party-tide to historic margins in the state House, set an ambitious goal of reclaiming the chamber. Republicans, not to be outdone, said they will be able to hold onto several traditionally Democratic-leaning districts they stole in 2010 — and even said they can build on their 68-32 advantage in the Montana House.
The election cycle will be topped by the multimillion dollar battle between Rehberg, the Republican, and Tester, the first-term Democrat who toppled Conrad Burns in 2006. Rehberg said he would not place a limit on the number of debates he has with Tester, and is open to holding one sooner than traditionally is done in a general election matchup.
Rehberg said he was prompted to run for the U.S. Senate, and leave behind a House seat he has easily held onto since 2001, because he strongly disagrees with the policies of Tester and President Barack Obama. He continued his campaign’s strategy of hammering Tester for his support of Obama and polices such as the stimulus package and health care reform.
“There will be a lot of interesting debate over the next few months in this race,” he said.
But Rehberg said he isn’t going to pick a favorite among the field of Republican presidential candidates, only promising to back whoever is chosen by GOP primary voters.
“Ultimately, I think we will have a great candidate, and I think ultimately we will beat Barack Obama. I don’t know how we couldn’t,” Rehberg said.
Tester’s campaign said the senator looks forward to debating Rehberg and comparing records.
“Jon’s policies include writing the veterans jobs bill, the only jobs bill to pass Congress last year, delisting wolves and working across party lines to put folks back to work in Montana’s forests,” said Tester spokesman Aaron Murphy.
Tester will file paperwork at a later date with the Montana Secretary of State, the campaign said. Filing runs through March 12.
Democrats rallied at the capitol to tout legislative candidates they believe can reverse the big gains made by Republicans.
While Republicans are running against the policies of Democrats in Washington D.C., Democrats are portraying the work of the GOP dominated Montana Legislature of 2011 as shrill, extreme and “an embarrassment.”
“We don’t need to waste out time arguing about whether we should or shouldn’t secede from the United States,” said Rep. Bill McChesney, D-Miles City, poking the GOP for several failed bills that attempted to give the state primacy of federal laws in several different ways.
Republicans, however, were confident at an event of their own that Montanans will continue to elect them in large numbers to the legislature. They said the final product of their work helped limit the growth of state government and reduce environmental hurdles to development.
“In our opinion the people of Montana need leadership that understands more regulation does not equate to more jobs,” said Rep. Gordon Vance, R-Bozeman.
Also on Thursday, the attorney general clarified that the state’s term limit law allows a previous officeholder to return to office eight years after leaving the post. This will make it a little easier for past officeholders to file again, since previous interpretations said the filing date to return must occur at least eight years after leaving the post.