Three Democrats compete to take on Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON - Democrats are again hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg this November after several failed attempts in recent years to draw the Montana Republican into a competitive race.

Jim Hunt, one of three Democrats running in the state's June 3 primary, is touting his experience as an Army National Guard officer, avid sportsman and Helena lawyer in his upstart bid against Rehberg. He's the only Democrat who has raised a significant amount of money - $133,000 in the first three months of the year. That was $26,000 more than Rehberg raised in the same period.

Rehberg still has a significant fundraising advantage, though, with more than half a million dollars on hand at the first of April compared with Hunt's $115,000. And Rehberg's posted some impressive wins in recent years, garnering almost 60 percent of the vote against Democrat Monica Lindeen in 2006.

Rehberg says he wants to stay in Congress to continue pushing for an increase in domestic energy production, better access to health care for Montana families and more benefits for veterans, among other things.
"I'm in a great position to continuing fighting to fund key rural programs while at the same time helping to rein in out of control federal spending," he said.

Rehberg is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which doles out federal dollars, and has joined with other Republicans in calling for reforming the way Congress spends money.

Hunt says military and veterans issues will also be his priorities in Congress. He says he wants to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, work on the health care system and look for ways to reduce gas prices. Privacy issues are another concern, he says.

"We need to make sure the government stays out of our private lives," Hunt said.

If elected, Hunt would join Democratic Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus in Montana's delegation. He says the state could use another Democrat because Congress is expected to remain under his party's control.

"It will be much more advantageous if we have a Democratic congressman who can work with the Democratic senators from Montana," he said.

One of Hunt's supporters is former Montana House Speaker John Driscoll - who also happens to be one of the other Democrats running in the June primary.

Driscoll says he'd be "perfectly happy" if he lost and "absolutely delighted" if Hunt wins, and he's not planning on raising any money. But he's running anyway because he feels strongly that the federal government is corrupt, and money in politics is one of its worst vices.

He says he's not raising money because he doesn't think it's right.

"If you get there the wrong way, you can't make the most important change," Driscoll said. "I am providing voters with the opportunity to send someone to Washington who didn't take any money."

Also running is farmer Bob Candee. He says he is running on increasing loan rates for grain and a "planetary system" that would reinvent the U.S. government. He envisions a virtual Congress where representatives "bring government back to the people" and meet in other locations around the country instead of Washington.

The Montana Democratic Party hasn't officially endorsed anyone in the race, but party spokesman Kevin O'Brien says the party is "encouraged by how hard Jim Hunt's working."

So how can a Democrat beat Rehberg, who has fended off several challengers since he was first elected in 2000?

"I don't think he has been challenged hard," said Hunt, who says the Republican has voted too often with Bush and leans to the right of most Montanans. "My job is to bring out his real voting record."

Rehberg denies that he has voted too often with the president, saying he has voted against him on farm issues, Amtrak funding and rural essential air service, among other things.

He said he plays an important role as the only Republican in the state's congressional delegation, no matter who is in control.

"We ought to have at least that voice in Congress, if nothing else then as a conscience," Rehberg said.