U.S. Senator Max Baucus easily won his re-election bid against Bob Kelleher.

The Democrat has been a Montana Senator for some 30 years, while Kelleher, the perennial candidate who has run for the Green Party and Democratic party banners, did not raise money or campaign to any extent.

Shortly after Baucus won his sixth term he gave his acceptance speech in Billings and outlined his plans for the next two years, as well as the future of the Democratic National Party.

"We still have mountains to climb. That is our fate especially as Democrats" said Baucus. "We're the party that's inclusive. We like to solve problems. That's out destiny and we relish that opportunity as Democrats to work together."

Meanwhile, Republican Representative Denny Rehberg also won re-election, running against Democrat John Driscoll and Libertarian Mike Fellows.

The incumbent came out on top, easily winning his race 65%-32%.

Driscoll used to be a Public Service Commissioner, and he shocked the political world back in June when he won the Democratic primary without spending a dime, and without campaigning. He also took the same approach in the general election, he just had a web site.

Rehberg, from Billings, was seeking his fifth term, and had previously served as Montana's Lieutenant Governor.

(from November 4, 2008)

The Associated Press has called a winner in the Montana U.S. Senate race, giving Max Baucus an easy victory over Butte lawyer and perennial candidate Bob Kelleher.

The umbers are preliminary, but Baucus was declared the winner of a sixth term in the U.S. Senate and will remain chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Democratic Senator Max Baucus and Republican Representative Denny Rehberg are counting on the power of incumbency to help send them back to Washington this year.

Both Montanans have far out raised and outspent their lesser-known opponents.

Baucus, who has been in the Senate for 30 years, and serves as chairman of the Senate's top tax-writing committee, is running against perennial candidate Bob Kelleher, who has run as a Democrat in the past. The state GOP has distanced itself from Kelleher, and the candidate has raised little money.

Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is running for his fifth two year term and is challenged by Democrat John Driscoll, who has pledged not to raise any money.

During an October debate, Driscoll said that he would vote for Rehberg, after the Congressman voted against the federal bailout.
     
      (Information from The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Less than 30 minutes after the polls closed in Montana, The Associated Press called a couple of races here in Montana.

Democratic incumbent Governor Brian Schweitzer is being declared the winner of the gubernatorial race and early counts show that Max Baucus has defeated Republican challenger Bob Kelleher.

The win means Baucus will begin his sixth term as a U.S. Senator.

Montana Sen. Max Baucus has defeated GOP challenger Bob Kelleher to win his sixth term in the U.S. Senate.

The call was based on an analysis of voter interviews, conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International.

Baucus has been in the Senate for 30 years and serves as chairman of the Senate's top tax-writing committee. Kelleher is a perennial candidate who ran in previous races as both a Democratic and Green Party candidate.

The state GOP distanced itself from Kelleher, and the candidate raised little money. Baucus, meanwhile, raised millions for his re-election bid.

Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is running against Democrat John Driscoll.
     
      (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)