The announcement by Sen. Max Baucus that he will retire when his term expires in 2014 prompted local reactions of surprise, praise and speculation about how the race to replace the veteran lawmaker will play out.

“I was astounded because Baucus announced somewhere around a year ago that he was running for re-election and he already started raising money,” said Bob Brown, a longtime Republican legislator and Montana political observer.

“He’s served longer in the U.S. Senate than any other Montanan in history,” Brown said of Baucus’ 33 years in the Senate. “From that standpoint, maybe it shouldn’t surprise us, but everything else indicated he would be running again.”

Brown was elected to the Montana House in 1970 and Baucus, a Democrat, was elected to the Montana House in 1972. 

“I know him real well ... we were young unmarried guys and we palled around a bit together,” Brown said, adding that the two have the same birthdays.

Brown recalls he and Baucus discussing the prospect of running against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Dick Shoup in 1974, with Brown viewing it as an uphill battle.

“Max said, ‘I think I can beat him.’ He saw the Watergate debacle shaping up,” Brown said. “He realized the significance of that, I think, more than I did.”

Baucus won the race and served in the U.S. House until 1979, when he started his first of his six terms in the Senate.

Joe Brenneman, a former Flathead County commissioner and current chairman of the Flathead County Democratic Party, was caught off guard by Baucus’ announcement.

“I was surprised to hear it today, but in some ways it wasn’t entirely unexpected,” Brenneman said Tuesday. “Someone who’s worked somewhere for 34 years and put all that time and dedication in, you can’t be too surprised.”  

Brenneman added: “I have absolute respect for his dedication and doing what he thought was right for Montana. Even when I disagreed with him, I have no doubt that he thought he was doing what was best for Montana. I appreciate the work he did and I’m glad he was there.”

Scott Wheeler, a West Valley resident and treasurer for the Montana Democratic Party, had a similar.

“I think he’s done a real good job. I think he’s done what he thought was best for Montana ... We really appreciate what Senator Baucus has done. Just ask the people of Libby,” Wheeler said, referring to Baucus’ interventions on behalf of asbestos victims.

Wheeler said he has “no clue” what candidates might emerge in the Democratic Party for Baucus’ Senate seat. “I do know the party will endorse no one,” he said.

Brown offered his speculation, saying that the party’s nomination is a lock for former Gov. Brian Schweitzer if he chooses to run. 

“If Schweitzer doesn’t want it, I think it’s wide open on the Democratic side,” said Brown, who was Schweitzer’s Republican opponent in the 2004 gubernatorial race.

Brown said other Democratic candidates that could emerge include State Auditor Monica Lindeen, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau or Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath.

“On the Republican side, probably the strongest pony in the stable right now is young Congressman Steve Daines,” Brown said of Montana’s first-term U.S. representative.

Also in the hunt are former state Senate Minority Leader Corey Stapleton of Billings and state Rep. Champ Edmunds, R-Missoula, both of whom have announced their candidacies for Baucus’ seat.

Brown said there could be other Republican contenders, such as state Rep. Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, or former state Sen. Ryan Zinke of Whitefish, a retired Navy SEAL who was a lieutenant governor candidate last year.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.