Dem Walsh raises $583K for Baucus’s seat

Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh (D) has raised $583,000 in his first three months as a Senate candidate and has $435,000 in the bank for the race to replace retiring Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), according to the Billings Gazette.

Walsh’s fundraising haul falls far short of what his likely opponent, Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), brought in. Daines raised $1.1 million in the same period and has $1.9 million for the race.

{mosads}Democrats are hoping Baucus will be quickly confirmed as ambassador to China this month, and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) will appoint Walsh to his seat. That could boost Walsh’s fundraising and help him raise his profile.

Daines is favored in the race and has far outpaced Walsh in fundraising. 

But it’s not all bad news for Walsh. His haul isn’t terrible for a first-time candidate in an inexpensive state. Additionally, Walsh’s primary opponent, former Montana Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger (D), raised just $10,000 and has no money in the bank after loaning himself an additional $10,000, Bohlinger’s campaign told the Gazette. Bohlinger has said he could drop out of the race, if Walsh is appointed to the Senate.