Local Dems hope to 'draft Schweitzer'

A grassroots campaign to persuade former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer to run for the U.S. Senate made a tour stop July 3 in Whitefish at the Flathead Democratic headquarters.

The Draft Schweitzer campaign is under the umbrella of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. With 950,000 members nationwide, the group helps “bold progressives campaign and get elected.”

The committee organized a campaign in 2012 that assisted with the election of Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Wednesday’s Draft Schweitzer rally was attended by about 75 people. Coordinator Sean Whiting said their efforts began about two months ago when current Sen. Max Baucus announced he wasn’t running for re-election.

“We needed to find a candidate that could win his seat,” Whiting said.

Whiting and other volunteers have been traveling around the state gathering signatures, recruiting volunteers, raising funds and “building excitement for grassroots support, so if and when Brian declares, we can win.”

The group currently has raised about $33,000.

Whiting said he became impressed by Schweitzer after the Exxon oil spill in the Yellowstone River two years ago.

“Brian came [to Billings] and made a speech,” Whiting said. “But he didn’t just make a speech, he stayed there, went to an Exxon conference and said he wasn’t going to leave until they did the right thing.

“They threw him out, just flat out threw him out. But he stayed there until they cleaned up the river. We know what happens if politicians aren’t willing to stand up to corporate interests.

“That’s why we need to get Brian elected.”

State Rep. Ed Lieser spoke in support of the Draft Schweitzer campaign.

“We are blessed with somebody that I believe can make a difference, not only for Montana but in the U.S. Senate,” Lieser said.

A few in attendance Wednesday thought Schweitzer would announce his Senate campaign while in Whitefish, although the former governor never showed.

Schweitzer has reportedly said he would consider a run for U.S. Senate, but that he hasn’t made up his mind. He hasn’t attended any of the Draft Schweitzer events, Whiting noted.

Possible Republican candidates whose names have been mentioned for a run at the Senate seat include former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot and current Rep. Steve Daines.