By Michael Noyes | Montana Watchdog
HELENA – By all accounts the Republicans will likely have already chosen a presidential candidate by the time Montana voters go to the polls in June.
“Historically speaking, the nomination is usually decided long before Montanans cast a vote,” state Republican Party Chairman Bowen Greenwood said.
That doesn’t mean Republicans in the state aren’t watching closely ahead of what could be a pivotal primary in Florida next Tuesday.
Touching base with party officials and political experts around the state, Montana Watchdog found most political insiders uncertain about which candidate has the most support in Montana at this point.
“I hear a lot of support for (all) four candidates” that still remain in the race, Greenwood told Montana Watchdog on Monday.
Billie Orr, chairwoman of the Bozeman Tea Party, said a survey of the parking lot at their events will show bumper stickers for each candidate.
“I think it’s all over the board,” Orr. “We all have our own personal candidates.”
The candidate for House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, is Mitt Romney.
“He’s probably the strongest candidate who can beat Obama,” Milburn said.
Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have won the last two Republican primaries and are battling at the top of the polls in Florida.
Looking at the race from a purely political scientist’s viewpoint, Paul Haber, chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Montana, said he was surprised by Gingrich’s ability to revive his campaign and said the race is “much more interesting because he’s there.”
Haber said a race between Gingrich and Obama would be interesting because they both have high IQs and really know Washington.
