When Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) ran for a third term in 2000, his opponent Brian Schweitzer -- now Montana's governor -- held him to a mere 51%. In a Presidential year in which George W. Bush received 58% support, Burn's results were surprisingly weak. For this reason, and the overall resurgance of the Democrats in Montana, Burns looks like one of the few GOP Senators the Democrats have a real chance at knocking off in 2006. Charles S. Johnson lists the four leading candidates for the Democratic nomination in the Helena Independent Record:

At least four Democrats are being considered or being mentioned as possible candidates next year for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Conrad Burns.

They are:

Daniel Kemmis of Missoula, an attorney and former Montana House speaker who heads the Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a research think tank at the University of Montana.

John Morrison of Helena, an attorney who was re-elected as state auditor in November and serves as Montana's insurance and securities commissioner.

Leo McDonnell of Columbus, founder and president of R-CALF, a national cattlemen's group.

Jon Tester of Big Sandy, an organic grain farmer who is president of the Montana Senate this session.

Burns, 70, already has declared he is seeking a fourth six-year Senate term in 2006.

While the Senate races in Pennsylvania, Florida, Rhode Island and Minnesota will all be extremely interesting in the next two years, make sure to keep an eye on the Montana race. The pundits might not be discussing it, but it will be one race we will surely cover here at Basie! to the best of our ability.