Surprise Convention Star Brian Schweitzer Interviewed

Brian Schweitzer is the outspoken Montana governor who prefers jeans and Native American bolo ties to business apparel. He gave a spirited convention speech on Tuesday night that, for many Democrats and most Americans outside his home state, was their first glimpse of this self-effacing and funny state chief executive. He took a few moments to chat with Salon on Thursday.

Schweitzer handicapped Obama's chances this November in the Western states and talked about John McCain's problems with his base. [The interview was conducted before the announcement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate.]

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[gcallaghan]

Schweltzer' did a GREAT JOB on that speech. Towards the middle of it I began to suspect he was going to close with a warning that unless we turn the country around we'd all be living in a van down by the river.

[JJeff88]

I wish HuffPo would have posted a streamed link to Gov. Schweitzer's speech before the Convention - which I consider the best stump speech I ever heard in over a half-century.

He says he'll be too busy running for re-election in Montana to make appearances in southern Ohio, southwester Penna, western Virginia, the western Carolinas etc.

Too bad - in those parts of the US, he is precisely what the doctor ordered.

[openhand]

This guy should be the 50 State Strategy.... I'd be happy to schedule his flights...

[Bulbul]

Next Barack Obama.

[bascombe]

i LIKED HIM, TOO!!!

[AurigaRa]

what surprise?
I wanted him for VP.

[geobushono]

Agreed.
Anybody who watches CSPAN has seen him...............I was so impressed with his grasp of the energy issue last year, that I contacted his Office to assure his staff, there is support for him at the grassroots level.
He is a rising star, and the National Party will benefit from people becoming familiar with this forward thinking populist.

[Teritt]

Let me count the times i've paraphrased the quote 'you don't need a $2 calculator to tell you that if we use 25% of the oil, sitting on 3% of the reserves just ain't gonna solve the problem'. I LOVE HIM and I do apologize in advance if I didn't get the quote exactly correct.

[GuyFawkes]

Don;t know a thing about him, but his speech was great. A good ol' fashioned barn burner.

[donna16]

I agree, he is great. I wish he was my Governor!

[AnotherToerag]

That's my Governor!
Great speech on Wednesday!

The mountain west is the new New England! Except for Utah. And Wyoming.

And Idaho.

Oh... nevermind.

[speeddeeps]

HaHA ,My fathers family lives and utah and they are telling that they are the only ones with an 0bama lawn sign

[Liberal2]

Okay, why is McCain better for America than Obama?

[geobushono]

"The West is the best..." jm

[myke3000]

Note to Barrack Administration: MAKE HIM SECRETARY OF ENERGY!

He was great at the convention.

[AnotherToerag]

As a Montanan, I really hope he stays here as Governor.
While he would be an excellent Sec. of Energy, his Lt. Governor is a Republican. I suppose my selfishness is showing, but Montana needs Schweitzer where he is!