Earlier today, the University of Montana held its annual homecoming parade. Politicians frequently use the parade as a cost-effective campaign tool. This year was no exception with politicians like Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester, Senator Conrad Burns, and lots of local candidates walking the parade route.
I was watching the parade downtown across the street from the parade announcer and the judges' stand. The announcer greeted each politician that went by, named their party and the race they were in (if they were running this year), and wished them luck in November. When John Tester went by he even made a point of joking about Tester's haircut. When the Missoula Country Republicans came he thanked U.S. Representative Dennis Rehberg for all his years of service. However, he then immediately skipped over the most high profile Republican candidate in the parade to recognize a candidate for the State House. That high profile candidate: Conrad Burns. Burns didn't even notice.