Montana Republican Chairmanship Up for Grabs

by: Matt Singer

Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 09:26:08 AM MST

[Rick] Breckenridge [of Proctor] said he wants the Republican Party to refocus on the conservative message that led to a groundswell of involvement in tax day "tea parties." [...]

Breckenridge is also touting the enthusiasm created by the Ron Paul supporters who got involved last year in an effort to carry the Montana primary for the former presidential candidate. He also will make a point to emphasize the anti-abortion portion of the party platform, alongside the key message of limited government.

"I think there is some fear of the enthusiasm that Dr. Paul has energized," he said. "But once we get everything working, I think the finger-pointing will stop."

Breckenridge's more mainstream opponent is Will Deschamps, a Missoula Republican I met briefly when we sat on a youth participation panel together a year ago or so.

Part of it is getting Republicans focused on the core message of fiscal conservatism that binds them all together. He said Democrats have done a better job of sticking together on the same message.

"We have to find some palatable place where we can go to and all move forward. The my-way-or-the-highway method doesn't work," Deschamps said. "I think the Republican message is the message that resonates best with the Montana voters. The problem has been communication and getting the message out and crafting it in a way that people listen to it."

What's likely to happen? I don't know. I'd guess Deschamps is the establishment pick (confirmed a bit by a visit to his Facebook group where he gets support from Conrad Burns, Jon Bennion, Duane Ankney, Liane Johnson, Bowen Greenwood, and Tim Fox). But this will be another test of the organizing prowess of the Ron Paul sector of the party. Who knows who has been putting in the legwork on central committees over the past year? (Hint: not me.)