Bohlinger may end campaign if Walsh appointed

MISSOULA (AP) - Former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger says he may end his campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate if current Lt. Gov. John Walsh is appointed to serve the rest of Max Baucus' term.

If Baucus resigns from the Senate to become the next U.S. ambassador to China, it will be up to Gov. Steve Bullock to pick an interim replacement until January 2015.

Walsh has asked Bullock to appoint him, but the Democratic governor has kept quiet on a possible selection.

Bohlinger tells KGVO-AM (http://bit.ly/1anJeU7 ) that if Bullock picks Walsh, Bohlinger "would give serous thoughts to withdrawing from the race."

Bohlinger says the interim appointment would give Walsh the power, name recognition and fundraising ability of an incumbent, making it almost impossible to defeat him in the election.