It was always Bullock's choice to make
Republicans sure made a fuss over Gov. Steve Bullock appointing his lieutenant governor, John Walsh, to finish the term of Max Baucus in the U.S. Senate.
But we say, what’s the fuss? Whether he selected Walsh because it was the best political move, or if he did it as a show of confidence in Walsh, or if he did it simply because he likes Walsh, the appointment is Bullock’s prerogative.
It seems pretty obvious that whoever Bullock picked, the choice would be criticized by Republicans, unless of course, a Republican was picked. Not likely.
Expectations that Bullock should have picked a so-called “placeholder” — a person who supposedly pledges not to run for the Senate seat — are puzzling as well. What if the people of Montana think that person makes a great senator? And why should Bullock be expected to pick an unknown? Most of the top-tier Democrats who are elected officials in Montana previously opted not to run for the seat, so the pickings were somewhat slim. Besides, why would they give up their “real” job for a placeholder one?
Bullock has every right to pick someone he feels will give his party the best chance in the election. Nor should anyone expect anything different if a Republican governor were in the same position.
The bottom line is that regardless of whether Walsh gains some advantage from being an appointed senator, he’ll have to stand on his own come November. Walsh may do better with fundraising than he would have without the appointment, but the Republican front-runner, Rep. Steve Daines, will be able to hold his own in this race.
Republicans have already chosen to frame the Walsh appointment as a move that was politically engineered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama. That may work as a political strategy, but it is basically just an accusation with no real evidence backing it up that we’re aware of.
On Friday, Bullock forcefully denied the accusation, telling the Associated Press that he told Reid it was “none of your damn business” who would be appointed, and that he was not influenced by the White House or Democratic Party leaders.
Again, the people will decide who their senator will be after this year, and Walsh will have to win their favor even if he does have some tenuous incumbent status. So no matter who Gov. Bullock had appointed, the people will have the final say.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.