By MATT McLEOD

Thick crowds at Missoula County polling venues Tuesday often meant long lines and wait times
for local voters. For Democrats it spelled major returns.

As expected, when the Missoula County elections office released its final results early
Wednesday, Democrats scored a landslide victory locally. With the exception of Republican
Denny Rehberg’s victory over Democrat John Driscoll, county ballots gave the party a clean
sweep in statewide races.

Missoula has long been a Democratic stronghold; the county has voted with a higher Democratic
percentage than traditionally right-leaning Montana down the line in recent elections, and this
year was no different.

For a comparison of Missoula County to rest of the state in the last two elections click here.

Allen Miller of the Secretary of State’s election department said early estimates of Montana’s
voter turnout have the number around 72 percent.

While the county is usually in the middle of the pack in voter turnout, Missoula County elections
recorder Vickie Zeier estimated that upwards of 80 percent of registered voters went to the polls
Tuesday. While turnout peaked at 86 percent in 1968, this year’s figure is a huge bump from
2004 and should be among tops in the state.

“It’s going to be right up there,” Miller said of Missoula’s showing.

Here’s a look at the election in Missoula County by the numbers:

Democrat Barack Obama carried 62 percent of the votes to Republican John McCain's 35 percent
in the Presidential race. Democrats cruised to easy victories in both the gubernatorial and U.S.
Senate races; Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer routed Republican Roy Brown by a 76 percent
to 22 percent margin, while U.S. Senate candidate Max Baucus, a Democrat, captured 79 percent
of votes to Republican Bob Kelleher's 21 percent.

Democratic secretary of state candidate Linda McCulloch beat Republican Brad Johnson 63
percent to 35 percent.

The attorney general race went to Democrat Steve Bullock, who took 65 percent of the vote to
Republican Tim Fox's 35 percent, while the state auditor contest went to Democrat Monica
Lindeen who defeated Republican Duane Grimes by the same margin.

Democrat Denise Juneau beat Republican Elaine Sollie Herman for state superintendent of
public instruction, winning on 63 percent of the ballots to Herman's 32 percent.

In the Supreme Court Chief Justice race, Mike McGrath trounced Ron Waterman, winning with
77 percent to Waterman's 23 percent.
 Rehberg held off Driscoll 50 percent to 46 percent.

The Secretary of State’s office released the full state totals early Wednesday morning. For final
results from Missoula County and the rest of the state go to the Secretary of State’s Web site at:
http://sos.mt.gov/ELB/elections/2008/general/index.asp.

2008 2004
Missoula County Statewide Missoula County Statewide

U.S. President U.S. President

D Barack Obama 62 47 D John Kerry 51 38

R John McCain 36 50 R George W. Bush 45 58

Governor Governor

D Brian Schweitzer 76 65 D Brian Schwietzer 60 49

R Roy Brown 22 33 R Bob Brown 35 45

U.S. Senate U.S. Senate

D Max Baucus 79 73 Non-contested

R Bob Kelleher 21 27 Non-contested

U.S. House U.S. House

D John Driscoll 46 32 D Tracy Velazquez 43 32

R Denny Rehberg 50 65 R Denny Rehberg 50 63

Secretary of State Percent Won in Statewide Races Secretary of State

D Linda McCulloch 63 49 D Bill Kennedy 55 46
R Brad Johnson 35 48 R Brad Johnson 39 48

State Auditor State Auditor

D Monica Lindeen 65 53 D John Morrison 61 52
R Duane Grimes 35 47 R Duane Grimes 32 41

Attorney General Attorney General

D Steve Bullock 65 52 D Mike McGrath

R Tim Fox 35 48 (no opponent)

Sup. of Public Inst. Sup. of Public Inst.

D Denise Juneau 63 51 D Linda McCulloch 63 54

R Elaine Herman 32 44 R Bob Anderson 31 41