Max Baucus Hit On Gun Vote With New PCCC Ad After Announcing Retirement

Baucus Hit Over Controversial Vote
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The Progressive Change Campaign Committee began an ad campaign Wednesday attacking Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) for his vote against gun buyer background check legislation, even after he announced he would not run for reelection in 2014.

The PAC is spending more than $50,000 to air the ad for a week on broadcast and cable television in Montana and on MSNBC and CNN in Washington.

"I’m a grandmother, a hunter and a gun owner. I’ve been the victim of a home invasion. I hid my girls in a closet, called for help, aimed my handgun at the door and waited," says narrator Claire Kelly. "Guns can protect us but we’re less safe with guns in the wrong hands. Seventy-nine percent of Montana voters support background checks. So why did Senator Max Baucus vote against us? Senator Baucus, now that you’re retiring, please put Montana first."

Baucus announced his retirement on April 23, six days after voting against bipartisan Manchin-Toomey legislation that would have expanded background checks for gun buyers. He explained his vote with one word -- "Montana."

The bill fell six votes short the 60-vote threshold needed for Senate passage. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said on Sunday he didn't think the measure was dead. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) told Pennsylvania reporters Tuesday that it was unlikely to get the votes anytime soon.

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Before You Go

Senate Majority Leaders Through The Years
Harry Reid (D-Nev.)(01 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 110th-112th Congress (2007-present) (credit:(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images))
Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) (02 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 108th & 109th Congress (2003-07) (credit:(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images))
Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) (03 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 107th Congress (2001-03) (credit:(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) )
Trent Lott (R-Miss.) (04 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 105th & 106th Congress (1997-2001) (credit:(LUKE FRAZZA/AFP/Getty Images) )
Bob Dole (R-Kan.) (05 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 99th & 104th Congress (1985-87, 1995-96). Dole resigned from the Senate in June 1996 to focus on his presidential campaign. (credit:(RICHARD ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) )
George Mitchell (D-Maine) (06 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 101st-103rd Congress (1989-95) (credit:(PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) )
Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) (07 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 95th, 96th & 99th Congress (1977-81, 1985-87) (credit:(AP Photo/Dennis Cook) )
Howard Baker (R-Tenn.)(08 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 97th & 98th Congress (1981-85) (credit:(AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi) )
Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) (09 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 87th-94th Congress (1961-77) (credit:(AP Photo/Eddie Adams) )
Lyndon Johnson (D-Texas)(10 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 84th-86th Congress (1955-61). Johnson resigned from the Senate in Jan. 1961 to take on his new role as vice president. (credit:(AFP/AFP/Getty Images))
William Knowland (R-Calif.)(11 of19)
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(Pictured right) Senate Majority Leader, 83rd Congress (1953-55) (credit:(AP Photo) )
Robert Taft (R-Ohio) (12 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 83rd Congress (1953). Taft died on July 31, 1953 and William Knowland was elected to take over on August 4. (credit:(AP Photo) )
Ernest McFarland (D-Ariz.) (13 of19)
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(Pictured standing, far right) Senate Majority Leader, 82nd Congress (1951-53) (credit:(AP Photo/Henry Griffin) )
Scott Lucas (D-Ill.) (14 of19)
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(Pictured front row, left) Senate Majority Leader, 81st Congress (1949-51) (credit:(AP Photo) )
Wallace White Jr. (R-Maine)(15 of19)
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(Pictured far left) Senate Majority Leader, 80th Congress (1947-49) (credit:(AP Photo) )
Alben Barkley (D-Ky.) (16 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 75th-79th Congress (1937-47). (credit:(AP Photo) )
Joseph Robinson (D-Ark.) (17 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 73rd-75th Congress (1933-37). Robinson died on July 14, 1937, and Alben Barkley was elected a week later to take over. (credit:(AP Photo))
James Watson (R-Ind.) (18 of19)
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(Pictured second from right) Senate Majority Leader, 71st & 72nd Congress (1929-33) (credit:(AP Photo))
Charles Curtis (R-Kan.) (19 of19)
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Senate Majority Leader, 68th-70th Congress (1923-29). Curtis resigned from the Senate in March 1929 after being elected vice president. (credit:(AP Photo) )