EMILY's List president open to run for Baucus' Senate seat

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WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock acknowledged she has been contacted by supporters to make a run to succeed retiring Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Schriock said she has been "overwhelmed" by the interest in the Baucus race and left the door open for a potential bid, The Hill reported Thursday. "I will say this: Montana has a great history of electing women," Schriock said. "EMILY's List has been involved a long time in Montana. And I think like you, I am waiting to see how this all plays out."

Schriock commented on the race to replace Baucus during a news conference on her group's new initiative to elect a female U.S. president.

Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer likely would be the strongest Senate candidate for Democrats and has indicated he's interested. The Hill said Schweitzer led all potential Republican contenders in a recent poll, which indicated Schriock is known by only 14 percent of voters.

"My inclination is to just stay right here. And I feel like today, the possibility of electing a woman president is pretty incredible. But I love Montana, it is my home. And I love the people of Montana. So I'm just going to see how it plays out," she said.

The "Madam President" campaign is backed by research from a new battleground state poll and will build a base of voters committed to the long-term goal of electing the first woman U.S. president, EMILY's List said on its website.

"The EMILY's List community -- now more than 2 million members strong -- and countless other Americans across the nation, are ready to put a woman in the White House who will move the country forward," Schriock said. "We have a deep bench of women leaders committed to fighting for progressive change who are up to the task of taking their place on the Democratic ticket in 2016 and beyond. It is clear that this is our time -- we are ready for a Madam President."

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is an overwhelming favorite in many national polls, but has said she doesn't want to make another presidential bid. She ran an unsuccessful campaign against President Obama for the Democratic nod in 2008.