Now he's the governor of Montana. And he's a Democrat.
"Go figure," Schweitzer told an overflow audience at the University of Utah on Tuesday.
But his 2004 election victory was no fluke. Nor are his approval ratings, which hover in the 70s. Schweitzer and other Montana Democrats have broken through in a longtime Republican stronghold. And other Rocky Mountain Democrats think he might be on to something - including those in Utah.
"He's been successful because he represents and articulates values that are important to Montana," said Sen. Karen Hale, a Salt Lake City Democrat. "It's refreshing to hear. We need to do the same thing here."
Schweitzer, on a multi-day swing through through the Beehive State, spoke Tuesday morning at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, then joined Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Capitol Hill for the signing of a bill that will provide seed money for the Western presidential primary that Schweitzer and his GOP counterpart have lobbied for.
Schweitzer says he was, at least to some extent, in the right place at the right time in 2004, owing to the problems of incumbent Republican Gov. Judy Martz - who stepped down after one controversial term. At the same time, he believes Montana voters had wearied of one-party rule and were seeking change all the way around. Four of Montana's five major statewide offices went to Democrats in the election.
"Any time one party rules for a significant stretch, some sense of fatigue sets in," he said.
But Schweitzer has since buttressed his standing by pouring record-setting amounts of money into education, using tobacco money to fund a state health insurance program for small businesses and relentlessly promote alternative energy development - be it wind, which Montana has plenty of, or synfuels. All while holding the line on tax hikes.
To replicate his success, Schweitzer says western Democrats, including those in Utah, must recognize they are a different breed than the species that exists in Washington and elsewhere - and campaign accordingly.
"We're different in the West than on either coast," he said. "In Montana we have 920,000 people and 7 million guns. We like to fish and hunt. We want to be safe. We want good schools. Those aren't Republican or Democratic values." The problem with the national Democratic party, Schweitzer added, is that it always chooses the smartest kid in class.
"In fifth grade, we didn't choose the smartest kid or the most handsome kid. We chose the most likeable. The Republicans have figured that out. We need good ideas and present them in a way that people will believe. We haven't done that."
jbaird@sltrib.com
