John Morrison for Senate

This is a preemptive endorsement by the Third Avenue to hopefully be the first or at least one of the first bloggers to support John's candidacy, should he actually announce that he is running against Conrad Burns. [he's got a campaign website that has the MT GOP's panties in a bunch]

As a staffer for the DLC, I wrote pieces on him and his good work for Montana. I also was lucky enough to meet him, very cool guy. Morrison chaired the 2002 DLC National Conversation group on Western Issues. The great part about the session was that you could tell not only that he gets what it takes for Democrats to succeed in the Rocky Mountain West, and just as important, knows how to explain this all to people on the coasts who control the party. [read the 2003 version]

From the Campaign site, a bio snip: "Prior to his election [as State Auditor], John practiced law in Montana for 13 years. He represented Montana in the state’s tobacco case, represented the New York Times and other media organizations in the “Unabomber” case, and handled many complex insurance cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts. He previously worked as a legislative aide and legal counsel in the U.S. Senate." That sounds like he would know what he was doing if he won, which seems likely given Burns' unpopularity.

What's not to like? He has been re-elected statewide, he is a nice man, a smart man, and his name is very close to being the lead singer from the Doors.