Baucus Stakes Claim to 2014

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is coming out with an early campaign advertisement this week and clearly making an announcement that he will run again in 2014.

There has been some speculation the veteran lawmaker would step aside after his bruising participation in the 2009 health care debate.

The Democrat is fifth in the U.S. Senate in seniority and has long been known as a bipartisan dealmaker in Washington D.C.

Since the health care deal, Baucus seems to have made an effort to return to his roots seeking common ground on Main Street issues like the recent payroll tax cut extension touted in the new ad.

And he holds sway over the upcoming farm and highway bills that have key constituencies back home among contractors, farmers and others.