Montana and South Dakota: Baucus forms joint committee for himself and Johnson
The Billings Gazette reports: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., recently opened a special joint fundraising account to raise cash for himself and for the possible 2008 re-election bid of hospitalized Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D.
The paperwork has been filed and organizers plan to hold a "big, signature event" in February, said Jim Messina, Baucus' chief of staff. All money will be evenly split between the two senators. ...
Baucus, who also is up for re-election in 2008, had $1.4 million cash on hand as of Sept. 30, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports. Johnson, who only narrowly won his last re-election battle, had $651,000.
Messina said organizers have been "pleasantly surprised" by how many people have already expressed interest in contributing. -- BillingsGazette.com :: Baucus to assist ailing senator