Schweitzer claims governor's race

Associated Press Writer

HELENA (AP) - Democrat Brian Schweitzer, who portrayed himself as government outsider promising change and bipartisan rule, defeated Republican Secretary of State Bob Brown in the governor's race Tuesday.

The victory returned the office to Democrats' hands for the first time in 16 years.

With 59 percent of votes counted, Schweitzer had 135,674 votes, or 52 percent, and Brown had 114,872 votes, or 44 percent. Green Party candidate Bob Kelleher of Butte had 4,796 votes, or 2 percent, and Libertarian Stan Jones of Bozeman had 4,025 votes, or 2 percent.

ÔÔIt's a new day in Montana," Schweitzer said Tuesday night, borrowing a phrase from his campaign ads. ÔÔIt's a new day."

The outcome marked the first time in 20 years that voters chose a Democrat for governor, and the first time ever that a Democratic candidate for governor ran with a Republican lieutenant governor candidate.

Schweitzer, a farmer-rancher from Whitefish, will replace Republican Judy Martz, who did not run for a second term.

In the presidential race, President Bush easily won Montana's three electoral votes in a state that has favored Democrats only twice in the past 50 years. Republican Denny Rehberg won a third term as Montana's lone U.S. House member, against Democrat Tracy Velazquez, a novice in her first statewide race.

Schweitzer promised to reach out to friend and foe alike in the election's aftermath. He said he would spend Wednesday calling Republican and Democratic lawmakers seeking their cooperation in the upcoming legislative session.

ÔÔI will ask a lot of people who didn't support us to come on board," he said. ÔÔI'm the governor of the entire state, not just those who supported us."

Schweitzer said the voters' message in the election was clear. ÔÔIt's time to have new leadership that works together, leadership that reaches out to people.

ÔÔThere's been a fatigue of just hearing the same old message over and over again," he added. ÔÔThe days of demagoguery are over."

Brown said his loss reflected Montanans' desire for change.

ÔÔSometimes the people just decide it's time to change direction or decide it's time for a change in the leadership," he said. ÔÔThere's a sort of rhythm in politics."

Republicans held the governor's office for 16 years until Democrats took it over for 20 years and then the GOP held if for 16 more, Brown noted.

However, he said Schweitzer's win does not necessarily indicate the arrival of trend toward lengthy Democratic control in Montana politics.

Exit polling showed Schweitzer and Brown each held onto his political base, but Schweitzer had an edge among independents.

In incomplete returns late Tuesday, Schweitzer led Brown in just 18 of the 56 counties, but they were among the state's most-populous: Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin, Hill, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Silver Bow and Yellowstone.

The race was a tight one by the final month, with a late October poll showing Schweitzer with a five-point lead over Brown.

The campaign also was marked in the closing weeks by a string of TV and radio advertisements critical of both candidates.

Brown, 56, and the Republican Governors Association ran separate ads accusing Schweitzer of taking hypocritical stands, refusing to release his income tax records and irritating people whom he's done business with.

Schweitzer, 49, and the Montana Democratic Party aired ads branding Brown a career politician and lobbyist, allied with the unpopular Martz, involved in deregulation of the electric industry and linked to a company sued for withholding money due its employees.

The men were a mix of similarities and differences in the campaign.

Both are from Whitefish and relatively moderate politically. Each made improving the Montana economy a major theme of his campaign and they advocated better funding of schools and advanced ideas to deal with rising health care costs.

But while Brown argued his 26 years in the Legislature and four years as secretary of state gave him the ideal resume to be governor, Schweitzer said it made Brown the kind of government insider that voters should not want in the governor's chair.

When Schweitzer repeatedly touted his experience in private business as giving him the tools to run government better, Brown challenged him to prove his success in business. The national GOP governors group joined in, suggesting that Schweitzer's refusal to do so was an attempt to hide a shady past.

The candidates made a big issue of their running mates.

Schweitzer made history by creating a split-party ticket in choosing Republican state Sen. John Bohlinger of Billings. Brown tapped Dave Lewis, a GOP representative from Helena and former budget director for four governors, including two Democrats.

Schweitzer, who had no serious threat in the primary, raised $1.4 million for his campaign. Brown, who faced three opponents for the GOP nomination, collected $1.1 million.