Linda McCulloch's campaign guru Joe Lampson may be good at gerrymandering legislative districts to put a disproportionate number of Democrats in office, but he could use a lesson or two in modern campaigning. 

Rule Number 1: Don't let the opposition steal your candidate's web site domain.

McCulloch announced her candidacy for Secretary of State yesterday, and immediatly the Montana Republican Party launched www.lindamcculloch.com.  Needless to say, it probably isn't what Ms. McCulloch had in mind for her campaign web site.

Word on the street has it that state Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch will announce her candidacy for Secretary of State in the next couple of days.  McCulloch will leave her current post with a lackluster record marked by declining student-statics and failing grades in national comparisons.  Under McCulloch's watch, OPI has flunked on educator-related policies, on No-Child Left Behind performance, and on the well-being of Montana school-children.  McCulloch also oversaw an increase in high school dropout rates.

Usually public officials with failing records turn themselves out to pasture at the conclusion of their terms.  But with just under 20 years on the public payroll, we're left wondering if maybe McCulloch needs a few more years to finish out that public employees' pension.