HELENA – Montana Democrats filled a hall Saturday to celebrate their recent gains in statewide office and rallied behind a new bid to unseat the state’s lone Republican congressman in 2010.
State party chairman Dennis McDonald formally proclaimed his candidacy for Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg’s congressional seat at the annual Mansfield-Metcalf fundraising dinner. McDonald, a Melville rancher, is a first time candidate.
“It’s time we have congressmen who vote for Main Street Montanans not Wall Street,” McDonald told about 1,000 Democrats in attendance.
The event was more low key compared to last year’s rally, when presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama drew about 4,000 people. But party members were in an upbeat mood as they celebrated Democrats’ sweep of statewide offices last November.
White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina, who began his political career as an intern in the Montana Legislature, fueled their optimism with his speech.
“My story’s only possible in Montana,” Messina said.
Before joining the Obama administration, Messina served as chief of staff for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., playing a key strategy role in efforts to derail the Republican push to privatize social security.
Baucus, Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. Jon Tester also spoke at the event at the Helena Fair Grounds. Virginia Senator Jim Webb was the keynote speaker.
The Democratic leaders called for more investment in education, health care reform and support for veterans.