Martz opting out of race comes as no shocker

HELENA - Pundits and politicos had debated, speculated and prognosticated for months whether Gov. Judy Martz would run again or throw in the towel. In the end, it was anybody's guess which way she would go.

On one hand, few would have been shocked if this feisty, former Olympian had concluded that - despite the woes of her first term and sagging popularity with voters - she was going to battle the long odds to stay in office.

As Martz put it in announcing her decision Wednesday, ''I have never backed down from challenging situations.''

Equally few can be stunned that, given the rocky road Mart...