As reported earlier, Montana's senior Senator Max Baucus has been nominated to be the next ambassador to China - pending confirmation by the Senate.
The announcement has shaken up Montana politics, since Baucus had previously said he would retire at the end of 2014 and return to Montana. Leaving office before his term ends, means Governor Steve Bullock will pick a successor, most certainly a democrat, and possibly his lieutenant governor John Walsh, who is campaigning for the seat. Democrats see this race as critical for maintaining majority control of the Senate.
News Director Sally Mauk spoke today with Lee newspaper reporters Chuck Johnson and Mike Dennison, to analyze what this all means for Baucus, for the Senate race - and for Montana.