HELENA -- Montana Republicans, reeling from U.S. Sen. Conrad Burn's loss last year and a bitter internal party split in the state House, meet here this week to elect new leaders and try to revive the party for 2008.

The convention, which begins Thursday, is the party's first statewide gathering since Burns, the GOP's titular leader, lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Jon Tester.

It's also their first convention since a dozen House GOP moderates broke away from the House Republican conservatives, met at a lodge outside of Helena and negotiated a budget-and-tax deal with Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer's staff after the Legislature ended in an impasse. That agreement became the basis for what the special session enacted last month.

Craig Wilson, a political scientist from Montana State University-Billings, said he doesn't believe Republicans are as strong in Montana as they could be. For starters, he said, they haven't yet found serious challengers to run against two popular Democrats, six-term U.S. Sen. Max Baucus and Schweitzer.

"It seems the bigger issue is the schism in the party between conservatives and ultraconservatives or the moderate-conservatives and conservatives," Wilson said.

"I think they have to try to work that out. To me, it's not just about issues. It's more about ideology. It's kind of the political blueprint you have.

"If the party doesn't get it back together and there's still this feuding going on, I think there's some chance of fratricide in the next election. They will go after each other in the primary."

Voters have their political perspectives, Wilson said, "but they don't like fighting and feuding, especially within the Republican Party."

Sen. Jerry Black, R-Shelby, was also blunt in his assessment: "We need to move toward the middle -- in the mainstream -- and we need to be able to negotiate more effectively."

GOP voters are generally disappointed in the legislative outcome because Republicans didn't accomplish much, he said.

"The election in Ravalli County of the county commissioners should send a wake-up call to Republicans throughout the state," Black said. All three Republican candidates for the five-member commission recently lost to two Democrats and an independent in the predictably Republican territory.

Although some Republicans have been hoping that U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg will challenge Baucus, all signs point to Rehberg running for a fifth House term.

Party insiders say House Majority Michael Lange, R-Billings, may declare his candidacy this week against Baucus, despite crashing and burning as the Legislature drew to a close. Lange unleashed a profanity-filled tirade against Schweitzer at a House Republican caucus that was aired statewide and even nationally. A few weeks later, his own GOP colleagues ousted him as floor leader.

One possible opponent against Schweitzer is Steve Daines. He's the Bozeman businessman who launched GiveItBack.com, and sponsored ads demanding that Schweitzer return more of the projected $1 billion surplus to taxpayers. Daines says has "no definite plans" to oppose Schweitzer, a statement that leaves the door open if he decides to run.

Delegates will choose new party leaders. Former Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs of Helena is not seeking another term as chairman, nor is vice chairwoman Karen Phaehler of Bozeman.

Erik Iverson of Missoula, Rehberg's chief of staff, is running unopposed for chairman, with a goal of building a new Republican majority with sound fiscal and pro-family policies.

"We made great strides in building a Republican majority in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s under the leadership of the likes of Stan Stephens and Marc Racicot," Iverson wrote delegates.

Iverson contrasted that with the bleak picture today: Republicans control only one branch of the Legislature and only four of 14 statewide elected offices (including regionally elected public service commissioners).

He's running with Liane (pronounced Lee Anne) Johnson of Cut Bank, an enrolled Blackfeet and Haida (Alaskan) Indian and farmer-rancher.

With Burns' defeat, Rehberg has emerged as the party's senior elected official or titular leader and he's up for the job.

"I can't wait," Rehberg said. "Erik's running for chairman is such a bright spot. We've got some big plans and good plans that we'll be able to present at the convention about the future of the Republican Party in Montana.

With characteristic bluntness, Rehberg said Republicans are "in the midst of a well-earned minority nationally" for becoming arrogant and abandoning their theme that government must live within its means and provide services the best way they can at the cheapest price.

"We can suggest and maybe pretend our recent electoral defeat was an aberration and out of our control," he said. "If you do that, you continue business as usual. Repackage. That's a mistake. I'm always one of those that believes you admit when you're wrong, you apologize and not do it again."

Rehberg said the state Republican Party as an organization is "kind of tired" and perhaps "became a little lazy" after past successes. What's more, he said, "We forgot to contrast the differences in philosophy between ourselves and Democrats."

Republicans need to build up their grassroots organization, educate themselves and then the voters on the differences between the two parties and showcase their philosophy on projects they work on.

Secretary of State Brad Johnson, the party's other statewide elected official, is also backing Iverson, calling him "just what the doctor ordered, frankly, in terms of reinvigorating the party."

Iverson said talk about a Republican legislative split, based on what happened in the House, is "a bit overblown" and involves differences in policy, not personal issues.

Rehberg said it gives Republicans a chance to rebuild the party "based on a re-examination and a reaffirmation of our convictions."

Two moderate House Republicans, John Ward of Helena and Alan Olson of Roundup, who participated in the deal said talk of a split is overreaching.

"What I'm finding out since that occurred is that kind of thing isn't that unusual," Ward said.

Said Olson, "I don't think there's a split."

Montana Republican Party Officers

Convention schedule highlights

Here are some of the highlights on the tentative schedule at the Montana Republican Party Officers Convention in Helena this week at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel:

Friday:

8-9:30 a.m., Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, will speak at a breakfast.

Noon to 1:30 p.m., Secretary of State Brad Johnson will speak at a lunch.

6:30-8 p.m., Colorado Republican Chairman Dick Wadhams will speak at a dinner. Wadhams ran former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns' 1994 campaign and helped in the closing days of Burns' 2000 race.

Saturday:

8:30-10 a.m. U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg will speak at a breakfast.

10 a.m. to noon: Delegates elect new state Republican officers.