Secretary of State Bob Brown has responded to rumors that Rob Natelson may be planning to run for governor again, getting into lobbying or launching a policy institute. (For more on Natelson's plans, see Brad Molnar's column in the Dec. 4 Outpost -- not yet available in stores).

Brown said he welcomed Natelson's participation in any capacity. "What would a race for governor be like without Rob Natelson?" Brown said in a news release. Natelson ran against Marc Racicot in 1996 and against Judy Martz in 2000.

Brown disputed a recent claim attributed to Natelson that Brown "has already called for tax increases." Brown said he declined to take a no-new-taxes pledge, which is a different animal. But Brown did say here that he would support a small tax increase to raise teachers' pay.

For what it's worth, Natelson's and Martz's appearances on Yellowstone Public Radio's "Home Ground" before the 2000 primary constituted one of the most lopsided political exchanges I've ever heard. He smoked her on the issues, but, of course couldn't get elected. I still don't think he can, although I have a lot of respect for Natelson. He's the real deal, a genuine conservative who probably isn't well enough plugged into the political machinery to get past a primary.

Molnar, another real-deal conservative, raises an interesting question: If Natelson doesn't run, who will get his base? Beats me. I can't see it going to Brown or Davison, and it's not clear yet whether Miller or Keating can raise enough money to make a serious run. It didn't seem outlandish to me that some of Natelson's base could go to Schweitzer, if Schweitzer can dodge the big-spender label that follows Democrats around.