Sen. John Walsh Drops Out Of Senate Race

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

By DANIEL STRAUSS Published AUGUST 7, 2014, 4:03 PM EDT

Sen. John Walsh (D-MT) has decided to drop out of the race for U.S. Senate, he announced on Thursday.

"I am ending my campaign so that I can focus on fulfilling the responsibility entrusted to me as your U.S. senator," Walsh said in a statement, according to The Billings Gazette. "You deserve someone who will always fight for Montana, and I will."

Walsh's decision follows a report in The New York Times in July which said that Walsh plagiarized significant parts of his master's thesis.

Since then Walsh had reportedly been trying to decide whether to continue running in the race or not. Even before the plagiarism story broke Walsh had an uphill battle to victory and faced a formidable challenge in Rep. Steve Daines, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-walsh-drops-out-senate-race

[Jackpine Radical]

1. So, what now? Schweitzer? (nt)

[hrmjustin]

4. He is the only one at this point that can win the seat.

[BlueMTexpat]

16. Schweitzer really disappointed Montana Dems by

not stepping up for the seat in the first place. He has burnt some significant bridges in the state both before and since that time. http://www.businessinsider.com/montana-senate-race-2014-brian-schweitzer-jon-tester-max-baucus-2013-7

I think that he himself realizes it would be a major uphill battle, at least per this very short blurb. http://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/former-montana-gov-brian-schweitzer-says-he-won-t-seek/article_fee5a73a-92df-5d30-9abc-2462718dfc41.html

As a life-long Dem born and raised in MT, I sincerely believe that Schweitzer is delusional in thinking he could win a national election, i.e., the Presidency, because he would certainly have difficulty winning even in his home state based on what I hear from family and friends still in the state who are Dems like me. I'll actually be in MT next week and may get a better firsthand feel for what is happening.

Walsh was making some significant gains against Daines before the plagiarism story came out - which is most likely why the story was published in the first place. I certainly don't excuse plagiarism, but this whole situation reeks of RW GOP opportunistic smear tactics. As usual, anything to avoid the issues and to make voters forget the consistent obstructionism ....

[TexasTowelie]

2. A possible replacement for Walsh:

An Opportunity In Montana-- A Chance To Swap Out John Walsh For Progressive Icon Franke Wilmer?

This week he (Walsh) started canceling campaign events without explanation. Politico reported yesterday that Walsh "is engaged in internal deliberations with his political team about whether to stay on the ballot this year." Politico tossed out a bunch of Beltway-oriented non-starters like Stephanie Schriock from EMILY's List and bankster Dirk Adams. In Montana people have been mulling Missoula state Senator Dave Wanzenreid, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau and Bozeman state Rep Franke Wilmer. Many see Wilmer as the intellectual engine of the Montana Democratic Party's populist/progressive wing. She's been a longtime Blue America fave and we hope she'll agree to run. I November 2011 she did a guest post for us explaining why she chose to become a Democrat:

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2014/08/an-opportunity-in-montana-chance-to.html

[BlueMTexpat]

17. I think that she sounds excellent and hope that she runs.

If so, I will be sending her some $$$ for her campaign. Hopefully, she would try to get both Howard Dean & Elizabeth Warren to campaign for her in MT - both could really help to put that race in play.

[jaysunb]

3. Enter Brian Schweitzer...please. n/t

[littlewolf]

5. is there time before a filing deadline? nt

[alp227]

9. the deadline was MARCH 10.

http://sos.mt.gov/elections/filing/

[PDittie]

13. Yes

Party meets to pick a replacement next Monday, deadline in two weeks.

Democrats will only have a couple of weeks to choose a candidate for the November ballot, with a nominating convention scheduled for Aug. 20. With so little time remaining, chances are, in-state Dems will struggle to find a credible candidate who’ll be able to make this a competitive contest.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/montanas-walsh-quits-campaign-following-plagiarism-controversy

[bluestateguy]

6. I won't defend him at all

No excuses.

[brooklynite]

7. I was having lunch with Al Franken...

...when my DSCC contact gave us both advance notice that Walsh was going to be the choice. Seemed promising at the time; too bad they didn't do enough background investigaiton.

[LeftyMom]

15. Name dropping is tacky. nt

[NBachers]

18. Call me tacky, but . . . I'd drop Al Franken's name if I could.

Please label me, too!

[littlemissmartypants]

21. Al Franken is his dog. nt

[CreekDog]

23. sometimes I have Brunch with Bernie Sanders

but then they changed the time slot and I couldn't find it for a while.

[iandhr]

8. What an idiot

[PoliticAverse]

10. Story in the Billings Gazette...

http://billingsgazette.com/walsh-drops-out-of-u-s-senate-race/article_44061fbc-fd60-583b-bc9b-61f41ebb49e0.html

[blkmusclmachine]

11. Wouldn't be an issue, if he were a Republican.

But, then again, if he were a Republican, he wouldn't be anywhere where a thesis is needed.

[TheNutcracker]

12. Wonder if he's getting a more lucrative job? Lots of selling out goes on in Montana

Max Baucus sold us out on the only jobs bill we had in years! Then there was this....

Senator Max Baucus Drunk / Intoxicated on Senate Floor ...

Video for senator max baucus drunk► 5:39► 5:39

Dec 23, 2009 - Uploaded by SocialistsSteal
Senator Max Baucus, Democrat from Montana Drunk on the US Senate Floor debating National health Care


gads....

[PDittie]

14. True dat. Case in point: Rand Paul

Second, there’s a reasonable case to be made that John Walsh is getting a raw deal. The fact that he was guilty of plagiarism is not in dispute – he was caught dead to rights – but the incident occurred before he became a senator.

In contrast, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was caught plagiarizing, repeatedly, in a variety of media, while serving in the Senate. Worse, while Walsh immediately acknowledged his wrongdoing, the Kentucky Republican tried to redefine the word “plagiarism” and suggested he wanted to “duel” journalists who dared to point out his misdeeds.

And yet, he we are. Walsh, caught plagiarizing before his Senate career, is finished, while Rand Paul, caught plagiarizing during his Senate career, is planning a presidential campaign. As we discussed a couple of weeks ago, the asymmetry is striking.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/montanas-walsh-quits-campaign-following-plagiarism-controversy

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

20. See also David Vitter vs. Anthony Wiener

Your lib'rul media in action, folks

[Joe Bacon]

22. Don't forget Morning Joe and Gary Condit!

Lori Klausutis mysteriously dies in Morning Joe's office, he quits Congress and gets a gig on MSNBC.

Gary Condit's intern dies and the media drives him out of public life.

The media always covers for Republicans and trashes Democrats.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

19. not defending Walsh, but always remember, IOKIYAR

Ask U.S. Sen. Edit-Paste, R-Ky.: