Anybody know the current state of noise from Tester?

[Recursion]

I'm liking Schweitzer more and more, but I think if they both were in the primaries it would have the Biden/Dodd cancel-out effect.

[Tx4obama]

1. Which race?

[Recursion]

2. D POTUS nom 2016, which we've all apparently fast-forwarded to now (nt)

[joshcryer]

3. I think Tester and Schweitzer will run against Clinton.

For that very reason.

If so it wouldn't be to defeat Clinton (hell, Clinton resoundingly defeats him in his own state in the polls), more so to put their ideas out there.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. MT is my birth state.

I do not believe that either one will primary Hillary because neither would want to be accused of weakening her as a candidate in any way. Tester is also happy as a US Senator (he does a good job for all constituents and is a needed voice in MT politics) and Schweitzer really does not want to campaign again - for a variety of reasons - from what I hear from family/friends still in MT.

After all, Schweitzer passed up the opportunity to run for national office, i.e., Baucus's Senate seat in 2014. From what I understand, that was not because he was biding his time for a Presidential run in 2016, and certainly not one against Clinton.

I suspect that DUers would not find the political ideas/policies of either much different from Hillary's; it's simply because neither are as well known nationally as she is.

[joshcryer]

5. I don't think it would be weakening Clinton.

For the simple fact that the current President is not allowed to run again, so any Democrats can run. It's not about being "against Clinton" but more about being part of the party. Kind of like how Clinton kept in the race even though the delegate count was not in her favor. A lot of people wanted her to drop out sooner but she stayed in the race, spending a shitload of money, and maybe breaking the hearts of a lot of supporters who wanted her to win. I supported that because I knew it'd make the party stronger in the long run and it did with Obama's sweeping election.

I'd agree it'd be "primarying" if it was against an incumbent. But Hillary is not the nominee or the President so she can be fought against. If she goes uncontested it will be a shame and I think they both would be very good challengers.

[BlueMTexpat]

6. It's not what you or I think.

It's what THEY think.

I am merely reporting what I hear from people who live in MT and are Dems.

[joshcryer]

7. Clinton needs someone to contest them, though.

Otherwise she won't have anyone to "debate against." These two guys are the best choices, imho, because I can't really envision many others who have views worth "debating against." Maybe I'm wrong about it, but they have nothing to lose contesting her. If she messes up, they get to be President, if she doesn't, they get to share their ideas and force Clinton to take a policy position she otherwise wouldn't take.

edit: I'd say De Blasio is another good challenger, but none of the aforementioned challengers have the foreign policy experience.

[BlueMTexpat]

8. Running against her

would require time, organization, funds and boots on the ground.

In MT, those will overwhelmingly be Hillary supporters, should she decide to run.

[joshcryer]

9. Sure, that's true.

But does that preclude them from putting their hat in the ring? I don't think so. We'll see in a short year or so.

[Recursion]

10. IMO it's only "primarying" if you're talking about an incumbent

Schweitzer has every right to run for POTUS, and seems to be at least prepping for it.

[joshcryer]

11. Schweitzer is definitely doing so more than Tester.

But I thank you for you OP asking about Tester. I think there's a decent chance he goes for it, as I outline above. If he does he would equal out Schweitzer and allow both he and Schweitzer's ideas to be heard, while not damaging a Clinton run. Indeed, while your OP suggests that they shouldn't run together, I think that ultimately if they did it would be awesome.

And, hey, if Clinton makes some mistakes, we might actually get a good progressive candidate. It's a win-win.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. OK, you are both right about my misstatement/abuse

of primarying.

Certainly Schweitzer has the same right to run for POTUS as anyone else. CBS News seems to believe that he will make a run, although their typical MSM-type speculation does not provide any hard facts, just trying to get the horse race a-going. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57608192/brian-schweitzer-considering-2016-presidential-run/

IMO, we should really be concentrating on 2014. 2016 will be what it will be.

But I am just relaying what I have heard from MT women (of both parties, btw) who are family members or longtime friends and who follow MT politics closely. They don't believe that he is seriously considering a run. Even if he did, all MT Dems I know would back Hillary in a heartbeat for a national election. But who am I compared to CBS after all?